The HP Foundation has contributed RM2.17million (USD 500,000) to Mercy Malaysia’s Covid-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to support the nation in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan is part of the wider efforts supporting the Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) and bolster initiatives already provided by HP Inc. to ensure the safety and health of Malaysians.
The donation will be used primarily to pilot targeted mass COVID-19 testing programmes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measures to find, isolate, test, treat and trace are not only the best and fastest way out of extreme social and economic restrictions (during Covid-19), they are also the best way to prevent them. The pilot programme will be targeted at testing for high risk and vulnerable communities nationwide including rural populations and newly identified clusters.
Funds will also be channeled towards the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare workers and hospitals responding to COVID-19 and the provision of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). These will benefit frontline workers nationwide as well as to children and families affected by COVID-19.
“The HP Foundation is focused on devoting resources to support response efforts in local communities during these difficult times. Together with a volunteer relief organization like Mercy Malaysia, we can proactively deliver positive impact to the local community in Malaysia and do our best to ensure their health and safety as we embark on the road to recovery together. We hope that this donation will help support the future of Malaysia as we keep working, learning and keep going,” said Fayza Mohamed Amin, Malaysia Managing Director, HP Inc.
Mercy Malaysia’s President, Dato Dr Ahmad Faizal bin Mohd Perdaus, expressed gratitude for the collaboration stating, “Mercy Malaysia deeply appreciates this significant contribution from HP Foundation towards Mercy’s COVID-19 fund. Their assistance of the nation’s efforts to combat the pandemic and make a positive impact on our health and safety is a great example of a private-civil society partnership for the greater public good.”
To date, HP and HP Foundation has donated an estimated USD 8 million in products and grants to support blended learning and local communities impacted by COVID-19 worldwide. The HP Foundation has contributed USD 3 million in grants; USD 1 million to support affected communities with critical medical supplies, and an additional USD 2 million in grants for COVID-19 relief.
The HP Foundation is focused on devoting significant resources to support community response efforts and will be working with both global and local partners to prioritize actions that will have the greatest impact. It will also direct students to the free courses on HP LIFE tied to business skills, marketing and entrepreneurship and match up to USD 4 million this year in HP employee donations to any eligible charity.
