“Mitr Phol-Banpu Endowment” Reaffirms to Stand by Thais to Fight COVID-19

The COVID-19 situation in Thailand has continued to stretch and intensified. Therefore, the ‘Mitr Phol-Banpu Solidarity to Aid Thailand on COVID-19 Confrontation Endowment’ continues its mission to stand by Thais to fight COVID-19. The endowment aims to help Thai people get a wide access to testing and treatment by providing medical equipment and essential protective equipment for doctors and medical personnel thoroughly and quickly. 

The endowment also aims to support the frontline doctors to ensure that they can operate with ease and safety. Over the past year, more than THB 270 million of the endowment have been utilized to support COVID-19 confrontation. The endowment will continue to carry out its mission until the situation in Thailand returns to normal.

At the virtual press conference of “Mitr Phol-Banpu Endowment Stands by Thais to Fight COVID-19”, Mitr Phol Group and Banpu Public Company Limited revealed that after the two companies jointly established the THB-500-million endowment, with a total budget raised from the two companies for THB 250 million each in March 2020. At present, the two companies have spent over THB 270 million of the endowment. 

Amid the third wave of the pandemic in Thailand, the two companies rush to gather all resources to distribute support across the country by providing necessary medical equipment for COVID-19 testing and protection of medical staff from the risk of infection, such as digital mobile X-Ray machines, respirators, PPEs, and other medical equipment. 

These supplies were distributed to 33 public health agencies and hospitals, including hospitals in the deep red areas, such as Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani. The medical equipment and necessities were given to nine field hospitals and hospitals that carry out proactive COVID-19 screening missions. 

In addition, over 10,000 liters of disinfectant alcohol were delivered to government offices and private companies. In the third wave of the pandemic, all of these contributions are worth more than THB 30 million.

Mr. Chanin Vongkusolkit, Chairman of Banpu Public Company Limited said, “Over the past year, the Mitr Phol-Banpu Solidarity to Aid Thailand on COVID-19 Confrontation Endowment has constantly supported medical and public health centers, with an aim to enhance their readiness of medical care for people, to encourage them to perform their duties with ease and safety, and to inspire other organizations in all sectors to take part in helping Thailand overcome this crisis. We expect the endowment’s support will significantly contribute to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 situation, reducing the risks for medical personnel, and alleviating the impact on those affected economically by the pandemic. We spent more than THB 270 million, accounting for 54% of the total endowment. We will continue our mission to stand by Thai people by working proactively to assess the situation and coordinating with both government agencies and organizations that directly aid the public who need help so that we can deliver our support as quickly as possible.”

Mr. Buntoeng Vongkusolkit, Chairman of Mitr Phol Group, said, “For over a year, Mitr Phol and Banpu have distributed our resources and support to several organizations in order to reach broader and non-duplicate results. We have been working with public health agencies to identify the critical issues that need an immediate response, e.g., the Department of Medical Services, the Department of Medical Sciences, Siriraj Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital, and Rajavithi Hospital. Each company uses its resources as well as overseas networks during the process. We provided crucial medical equipment such as CT scanners, negative-positive pressure rooms, respirators, N95 Masks, PPE kits, and disinfectant alcohol to all key target groups, including doctors, nurses, public health volunteers, soldiers, policies, and various government agencies at the provincial and local levels, as well as the communities and farmers in our supervision across the country, totaling 215 organizations, covering 35 provinces. Moreover, Mitr Phol and Banpu also provided special COVID-19 insurance for all employees.”

The Mitr Phol-Banpu Endowment will monitor the situation of COVID-19 in the country closely and will be working consistently with medical and public health organizations to provide aid and support quickly and effectively with the hope to see the number of patients in Thailand decline. Meanwhile, the two companies continue to drive their corporate operations through the Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) and the work-from-home policy to reduce the risk of infection.

“To prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 is a duty of everyone in every sector. On behalf of the private sector, we are ready to follow government policies and measures. At the same time, we are willing to provide full support with our resources, potential, and networks. And we sincerely hope that our endowment will inspire other companies as well as people in other sectors to take part in helping everyone in Thailand fight and overcome COVID-19 in the end,” concluded Mr. Chanin.