Novartis donates Rs40m to PRCS for COVID-19 testing kits and PPEs

KARACHI: The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Sindh Branch recently received a donation of Rs40 million from Novartis Pakistan.

The support package will go towards the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits for medical workers and COVID-19 testing kits. The ceremony was organized at Hilal-e-Ahmer House, Teen Talwar Clifton. Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Moin Khan, and renowned actor, Adnan Siddiqui, received the donation cheque on behalf of the PRCS-Sindh and thanked the management of Novartis Pakistan.

While addressing the ceremony, Mrs Shahnaz S Hamid, Chairperson, PRCS-Sindh, expressed her gratitude to Novartis Pakistan. She further said that this generous donation for PPE and testing kits would help enhance the capacity of our healthcare system, and also strengthening the efforts to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

She also announced that the PRCS-Sindh would soon introduce a mobile testing service for COVID-19 suspects with the technical support of the Indus Hospital. She urged others to come forward to donate generously for the procurement of testing kits like Novartis Pakistan.

Zaid Chaudhry, CFO, and Mrs Ayesha Mushtaq, Project Lead, Novartis Pakistan, said that our company is making all possible efforts to contribute its corporate social responsibility to help such organizations who are fighting against COVID-19.

Zaid said that the Red Cross/Red Crescent is an international humanitarian organization, and the PRCS is serving humanity throughout Pakistan. He further added that we are highly impressed by the humanitarian efforts of the PRCS aimed at alleviating people's misery. "Based on the credibility and reputation of the PRCS, we are confident that PPE and testing kits will be used efficiently," they added. As a representative of Pakistan's leading pharmaceutical company, they also assured that wherever possible, we shall be contributing our efforts to such an organization in reducing the impact of COVID-19.

Celebrities from Pakistan's film and drama industry, including Humayun Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, and others, also attended the event and praised the humanitarian contribution of Novartis and efforts of the PRCS for reducing the impact of COVID-19. “The people of Pakistan will long remember the generosity and contribution of Novartis in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic,” said Moin Khan, the former captain.

-MN Report