StanChart now lends a hand to Covid-19 patients

In a bid to extend supports to communities during this global health crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, Standard Chartered Bangladesh has partnered with Sajida Foundation to stand beside the Covid-19 patients in Narayanganj district.

The Sajida Hospital Narayanganj, operated by the Sajida Foundation, has been converted into a Covid-19 isolation center, with a requisite supply of ICU facilities, ventilators, dialysis machines, and PPEs. 

In this respect, the bank will go towards the daily treatment cost of all Covid-19 patients admitted to the hospital, said a media statement on Wednesday. 

Narayanganj is considered a coronavirus hotspot and has recorded the highest Covid-19 positive patients after Dhaka. 

The city is one of the major industrial hubs of the country and greatly contributes to the economy, employment, and export earnings. The region accounts for 55% of the country's total knitwear manufacturing.
Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, "We are delighted to partner with Sajida Foundation in supporting communities from a high-risk area. 

"We are focusing on providing wide-ranging and effective Covid-19 support programmes to vulnerable communities, as we strive to continue to live our 'Here for good' values," he said. 

"With the public, private, and the non-governmental sectors all working in tandem to tackle the pandemic, I have confidence that we will emerge from this challenge together, stronger and more resilient than ever before," he further said.

Zahida Fizza Kabir, chief executive officer at Sajida Foundation, said "This partnership with Standard Chartered Bank will enable us to extend our critical healthcare services in Narayanganj district."

"The Covid-19 crisis requires a united action in response and we will continue to engage all stakeholders to do so," she added.

Prior to this, Standard Chartered contributed a $1.6 million aid to Red Cross and Unicef programmes that are providing emergency reliefs to communities impacted by the pandemic in Bangladesh. 

The Bank is also collaborating with the Brac to deliver support packages to 25,000 people from 5000 low-income families, residing in locked-down areas.  

Besides, the bank has announced a broad range of support measures for its retail customers and businesses, including loan repayment holidays, fee waivers or cancellations, and loan extension facilities. 

It has initiated a $1 billion global financing programme for companies that provide goods and services to help the fight against the pandemic. It has also launched a $50 million funding in a bid to aid communities affected by the pandemic across its global footprint, including Bangladesh.

Sajida Foundation is one of the first responders to the Covid-19 crisis in the country. The Foundation has served more than three million individuals through awareness-raising, food and hygiene package distribution, agriculture value chain support, slum disinfection, portable handwashing device setup, and PPE disbursement. 

Sajida's two hospitals located in Covid-19 hotspots have treated over 15,000 patients since March the pandemic hit the country. It has also introduced an online Covid-19 symptom checker chatbot and dedicated hotline numbers to provide general and mental health consultations.