Bank gives 100,000 masks for virus fight

With government, businesses and communities across China doing their best to negate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, United Overseas Bank China is playing its part by helping the less-privileged and also supporting workers on the frontline.

Since the outbreak, the bank has been actively sourcing masks. It managed to acquire 100,000 masks from a client in Indonesia, who arranged cross-border delivery. Another Chinese-Indonesian client reached out to UOB (China) and offered to donate 2,000 face masks for the disadvantaged in China.

The face masks arrived at the bank in February. It gave 20,000 to frontline workers in Shanghai's Lujiazui financial district, including cleaners, environmental service workers and security guards. Another 3,000 were donated to senior care centers in the Pudong New Area.

"Lujiazui is grateful for the many organizations like UOB who have stepped forward to support the combat of COVID-19," said Ren Kaifeng, deputy head of Lujiazui Administrative Bureau. "This is the kind of support and spirit we need in this difficult time. With such support, we believe we will overcome this epidemic and build a better and stronger financial city.” 

UOB (China) teamed up with its charity partners, Youcheng China Social Entrepreneurship Foundation and YesKids, to deliver the remaining masks to doctors at hospitals, frontline service workers, community volunteers, journalists and the elderly in six provinces and cities across China including Hubei, epicenter of the outbreak.

Peter Foo, the bank’s president and CEO, said: “People in China are showing unwavering commitment to containing COVID-19. There are people putting aside their own comfort to work at the frontline to protect others and there are also vulnerable groups who do not have enough essentials to protect themselves. We want to help them by providing the supplies we can get hold of. I am heartened by the kind gestures of our clients, charity partners and our colleagues who worked together to make this happen in two weeks. This truly demonstrates how we uphold our values to stay united and to keep the good going.”

There are extra supplies on the way that UOB (China) will donate through YesKids to frontline workers. In total, UOB (China) has donated protective gears worth more than 650,000 yuan (U$93,515) to support local communities.