In cooperation with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Shanghai, the Czech Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (CzechCham) organized a donation for the purchase of PPE for the Czech Republic, to contribute to the fight of COVID-19.
All funds were donated by the generous Czech community living in China including Chinese friends of the Czech Republic. The Czech community raised 51 500 RMB which were used to purchase 1000 FFP2 respirators and 4000 single-use face masks, all donated to two homes for the elderly in Olomouc region of the Czech Republic.
According to the Czech Ministry of Health, as of 21st April 2020, the total number of infected people with COVID-19 in the Czech Republic rose to 6914. With 619 people infected in the Olomouc region itself, it makes the the region the second-highest concentrated region with COVID-19 infections in the Czech Republic, with 100.55 infections per 100 000 people.
To donate to the homes for the elderly came after careful consideration, given the fact that social care providers, such as the homes of elderly, would be in the second or third wave of distribution of PPE in the Czech Republic. Seniors are among those most vulnerable and in need of protection against coronavirus, however, some facilities for the elderly were reported being left without an adequate supply of PPE. Similarly, a poll conducted by Seznam.cz for the Association of Social Service Providers showed that in March, three-quarters of social service providers had less than 100-piece supply of disposable masks and hardly any respirators.
On 17th April 2020, the first part of the donation (500 FFP2 respirators and 2000 single-use face masks) was delivered to the home for the elderly FRANTISEK in Namesti na Hane, and the second part of the donation with the same amount of respirators and mask was delivered to the home for the elderly POHODA in Chvalkovice. Ms Kuliskova, the representative of CzechCham, said that she was touched by the warm welcome by both of the home’s directors when handing over the donation.
With this donation, the Czech community in China has expressed their concern for the safety and health of all Czech citizens, showing their support to the homes for the elderly and all their dedicated staff fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, taking care of those in need.
Mr Boxan (director of the home for the elderly FRANTISEK) is receiving the donation of 500 FFP2 respirators and 2000 single-use face masks, together with a letter of donation, from Andrea Kuliskova, the representative of CzechCham. From the prior communication with Mr Boxan, it was obvious that he was very grateful for the donation, helping to protect not only the staff but vulnerable seniors as well. Mr Boxan thanked the whole Czech community in Shanghai for such an act of kindness and he promised to share with everyone at the home who are the respirators and masks from.
Mr Floder (director of the home for the elderly POHODA) is receiving the donation of 500 FFP2 respirators and 2000 single-use face masks, together with a letter of donation, from Andrea Kuliskova, the representative of CzechCham. Mr Floder gave his assurance that the donation will help to maintain zero infection rate. Mr Floder was touched by this heartfelt gift, and he expressed that he was happy to know that Czech community in such far-away country sticks together and cares about its compatriots.
The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Shanghai has published a press release about the donation on their website (in Czech language).
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