12.5 Tonnes of PPE for Medical Staff
The second batch of PPE for frontline medical staff reached Poland on Saturday. 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 12.5 tonnes of protective coveralls touched down in Warsaw.
Our charity has donated medical devices, personal protection equipment and other goods to hospitals, clinics, ambulance stations and care homes across the country. Overall, the donations made by the charity amounted to almost PLN 50 000 000.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation directed its resources and expertise towards COVID-19 relief in Poland immediately after first confirmed the Polish Ministry of Health had confirmed cases of COVID-19. The main avenue of activity addressing the pandemic in the country was the purchase of medical devices and personal protective equipment for first responders and frontline medical staff.
The charity donated equipment worth PLN 48 765 372, 46. Among equipment donated by the charity, there are 200 beds for intensive care units, 34 medical ventilators (including ten transport ventilators which can be used onboard of ambulances), 2.6 million three-plier surgical masks. Please note that this sum does not include the cost of 37 additional medical ventilators which, even though have been paid for by the charity, because the company could provide the product at a much later date, were withdrawn from the COVID-19 Relief initiative.
It is also worth noting that equipment which has been donated by manufacturers and medical supply companies stands at PLN 2 503 078,54. The charity was able to give devices, such as infusion pumps, portable USG sets, and scuba-diving masks, which can be used to protect first responders against coronavirus.
Another aspect of COVID-19 Relief Initiative was aimed at addressing the needs of some of the most vulnerable people. The charity launched an initiative to help the elderly, people with pre-existing health issues, and other people more sensitive to the virus during nationally enforced lock-down. The Foundation helped volunteers and local activists get in touch with people who needed help running day-to-day errands, such as shopping or dog-walking. Over 2 000 volunteers helped 800 people, who had to observe strict social distancing rules. The initiative, dubbed "Let's Help Each-other", fostered a spirit of community and helped in trying time of pandemic and uncertain atmosphere of social isolation.
Another aspect of the charity's work to maintain community spirit in the uncertain and challenging time was the launch of daily online programme "Domowa Orkiestra" ("Home Orchestra"). The show, which airs every day since the start of the lock-down in Poland features competitions and activities for children, archive footage from the festival and other never-before-seen video material.
The second batch of PPE for frontline medical staff reached Poland on Saturday. 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 12.5 tonnes of protective coveralls touched down in Warsaw.
Lab equipment for testing and diagnosing coronavirus in Poland reached laboratories in Warsaw, Łódź and Poznań. Devices bought by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation allow lab personnel to test approximately 2 304 samples a day.
Jurek Owsiak travelled to Kołobrzeg to unveil two new location commemorating of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation - one a brand new roundabout and the second one - a whimsical statue of a seagull representing a volunteer.