GSK, M&S, and CARE extend support to Covid-19 affected people in Gazipur

With financial support from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and partnership with Marks & Spencer (M&S), CARE Bangladesh's Health Access and Linkage Opportunities for Workers Plus (HALOW+) project has come forward to extend support for frontline and field level health workers and community people to combat Covid-19. 

As part of the efforts in this critical situation, HALOW+ project distributed 450 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) along with 450 pieces eye shields, 400 boxes pf disposable masks and hand gloves, 400 litres of hand sanitiser, 520 litres of liquid soap, 2,500 bottles of hand rub, 10,000 soaps and 155 disinfectant spray machines to Gazipur City Corporation, Health and Family Planning Department of Gazipur district along with Savar and Bhaluka upazila health complexes. 

There was a simple handover ceremony session organised on April 23 where Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Alhaj Advocate Jahangir Alam was present as chief guest. Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan MP, also member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Labour and Employment, was present as guest of honour. Former mayor of Tongi municipality Advocate Azmat Ullah Khan and Senior Social Compliance Manager of M&S Mizanur Rahman also spoke on the occasion as special guests.  

Walter Mwasaa, country director and Dr Jahirul Alam Azad, head of Urban Health along with other project staff members were present from CARE Bangladesh on that event. 

Walter thanked both elected representatives of Gazipur City Corporation and local health officials for the collaborative efforts while recognising support extended by GSK and M&S in combatting health crisis due to Covid-19. 

Since March 8, HALOW+ project reached nearly 50,000 RMG workers and 100,000 community people through special community committee formation, Covid -19 awareness message sharing, demonstration of hand wash, facilitation of customised home based handwashing option and distribution of 120 pieces PPE, 1,000 boxes of disposable masks and hand gloves, 200 litres of hand sanitiser, 200 litres of liquid soap, 10,000 pieces soaps, 500 bottles of hand rubs and 120 disinfectant spray machines to city corporation and health department of Gazipur.