Bupa provides support to Indian COVID-19 crisis response
The Bupa Health Foundation has donated A$50,000 to UNICEF Australia to help support frontline efforts in response to the COVID-19 crisis unfolding in India.
There have been over 2.6 million new COVID-19 cases and 218,000 deaths were confirmed in India over the past week, with UNICEF appealing for help to assist the government in supplying oxygen to treat the ill, along with the broader distribution of accurate testing kits and COVID-19 vaccines.
Bupa has also established a COVID-19 Crisis Support Appeal for its over 20,000 employees across Australia and New Zealand who may wish to contribute, with all donations being matched dollar for dollar by Bupa[1]. The appeal supports UNICEF Australia and CARE Australia, who both have dedicated teams leading response and relief initiatives in India.
Bupa ANZ’s Chief Executive Officer, Hisham El-Ansary said the scale of the crisis demanded support from organisations such as Bupa.
“As a health and care company, with operations in the region, we need to play our part in responding to this humanitarian crisis. Through the support of our business, our people and relief organisations like UNICEF, we can make a significant contribution to saving lives in India.
Our hearts go out to our Bupa colleagues and the broader population in India, together with our people, customers and communities in Australia and New Zealand with family members who may be directly impacted,” Mr El-Ansary said.
Bupa UK has also announced a donation to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s (DEC) appeal to provide medical supplies, treatment facilities and logistics support to overwhelmed health services in the country.
“Supporting each other, wherever needed across the world, is a key learning from this pandemic” Mr El-Ansary said.
UNICEF Australia’s CEO Tony Stuart said the response to COVID-19 requires a truly united response.
“The situation in India is critical and this donation will go directly to our response there where we are urgently working to equip hospitals with Oxygen Generation Plants and provide other critically needed oxygen and testing supplies.
I thank the Bupa Health Foundation and its team for its generous donation and for also demonstrating a leading role in how the private sector can support this response,” Mr Stuart said.
Bupa customers can also help support the Indian COVID-19 crisis response by donating to the UNICEF India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal and/or the CARE Australia COVID-19 Emergency Appeal.
[1] Donations will be matched by Bupa up to $200 per person/year.
Media reference number: 20/125
