REPUBLIC Bank, last Thursday, donated eight portable ventilators to the Ministry of Public Health, to aid in the country’s fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which has since been responsible for 16 deaths in Guyana.

In receiving the items, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, shared that the lack of equipment at times has limited healthcare workers from effectively carrying out their functions, and at times negatively affect the workers when they see patients suffer as result of the deficiency in equipment.

“Healthcare workers bear a lot of emotional and mental stress due to their inability to provide the necessary services for patients. Many persons do not understand the impact it has on healthcare workers when they have someone’s life in their hands and do not have the necessary equipment which will help in saving those lives,” the minister is quoted in a statement as saying.

Since the first case was discovered back in March, Guyana has recorded 286 cases of the COVID-19 virus. In addition to helping in the fight against COVID-19, the

ventilators are expected benefit many other patients who may also suffer other ailments that would see them requiring the use of the ventilators. Handing over the medical equipment on behalf of Republic Bank was Representative, Denise Hobbs, who noted that financial institution is committed to help their customers and giving back to society during this period of uncertainty.
“We feel strongly about our corporate social responsibility [which is] often demonstrated through our power to ‘Make A Difference Programme’, [which] provides assistance to the people and communities we serve”, Hobbs noted, according to the statement. She further added that: “Republic Bank understands the social challenges facing the nation and its corps of dedicated healthcare workers who continue to wrestle the effects of the deadly viral disease sweeping the globe.”