METLIFE FOUNDATION WORKS WITH SPREEHA BANGLADESH TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND LIFESAVING VENTILATORS
Dhaka July 28, 2020
MetLife Foundation has announced its latest initiative, partnering with non-profit organization Spreeha Bangladesh to help healthcare workers tackle COVID-19. The collaboration will ensure that frontline healthcare professionals and hospitals are equipped with the appropriate protective equipment, as well as lifesaving ventilators to help treat critically ill patients.
Through a donation of USD 90,000 from MetLife Foundation, approximately 1,500 frontline healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses and support staff will be benefitted from the protective equipment, and around 5,000 patients will receive ventilation support for critical situation from 30 portable ventilators provided at selected hospitals.
SBF will select the COVID-19 treating hospitals based on a comprehensive need analysis by taking into consideration a number of important factors including number of healthcare service providers, current status of PPE and other protective equipment, existing number of ventilators and capacity of treating critical patients.
Syed Hammadul Karim, General Manager of MetLife Bangladesh commented, “We want to stand beside medical professionals who are helping patients return to health. Through the partnership, we will also strengthen the capabilities of select hospitals to treat critically ill patients with ventilator machines which will increase the chance of patient survival. As more people return to health, they can resume their daily working life and contribute to the overall economic recovery.”
Commenting on the support provided to frontline health workers and patients, Tazin Shadid, Founder & CEO, Spreeha Bangladesh Foundation, said “We thank MetLife Foundation for their generous support towards Spreeha's efforts to ensure access to healthcare for all and safety of the front-line health workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
About MetLife Foundation
At MetLife Foundation, we believe financial health belongs to everyone. We bring together bold solutions, deep financial expertise and meaningful grants to build financial health for people and communities that are underserved and aspire for more. We partner with organizations around the world to create financial health solutions and build stronger communities, engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was created in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its founding through the end of 2019, MetLife Foundation provided more than $860 million in grants and $85 million in program-related investments to make a positive impact in the communities where MetLife operates. To date, our financial health work has reached 9.9 million low-income individuals in 42 countries. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.
About Spreeha Bangladesh
Spreeha Bangladesh inspires change by empowering people. With use of creative solutions, we enable individuals and communities to rise above social barriers. Spreeha envisions a world where people and communities are empowered to achieve their full potential. As of January 1st 2020, Spreeha has empowered 2,40,006 lives: 146,589 people received healthcare; 7,100 children were educated; 5,996 youth got trained; and 80,321 individuals received counselling.