As Malaysians continue to face the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Manipal Hospitals Klang (MHK) and Ara Damansara Medical Centre (ADMC), are supporting communities in need by launching a Food Bank on their premises as part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility programme.
MHK’s Care 4 Klang Food Bank was set up to help low- and middle-income groups residing within the surrounding communities in the Klang area while ADMC is providing dry provisions to families and individuals residing in Ara Damansara, Subang, Subang Bestari and Sungai Buloh and other areas within the hospital’s vicinity.
Collectively funded by the hospitals’ senior management, doctors, staff, corporate partners as well as donations from the public, the Food Bank aims to extend a helping hand to lower income, underprivileged groups whose livelihoods have been affected by the current phase of movement restrictions due to the high number of Covid-19 cases. The Food Banks will be stocked with necessities including rice, flour, cooking oil, instant noodles, salt, sugar, tea, milk, and canned food items.
Yap Sim Bee, Interim Chief Executive Officer of MHK, said, “Witnessing the impact of the pandemic on our fellow Malaysians has moved us to establish the Care 4 Klang Food Bank to alleviate some of the hardships that individuals and families are currently facing. The hospital had demonstrated grace under pressure. Through our Food Bank, we have assisted families who have to cope with graver challenges of the pandemic in Klang.”
The Care 4 Klang was initiated by Dr Kenneth Lai, a consultant nephrologist and physician at MHK who felt compelled to assist those struggling during the MCO. With full support from the hospital management and staff, MHK has distributed RM10,000 worth of food to more than 2,000 families since the Food Bank was established.
“I was in tears just thinking of the poor children going hungry and I knew that we needed to do something for the Klang community. We need to help our community go through these hard times together! #kitajagakita” said Dr Kenneth.
One of the beneficiaries of the Care 4 Klang Food Bank, a mother of three, said, “I am very grateful for the assistance offered to my family and me. Since my husband lost his job, we have had a significant loss of income and the food bank has helped us tremendously.”
“Recognising fellow Malaysians are going through challenging times and pandemic fatigue, we wanted to provide food aid to make a real difference as many are struggling from the lack of basic necessities. Through our “ADMC Bersamamu” initiative, which is also in line with the country’s #KitaJagaKita, we want affected Malaysians to know that we are in this together,” said Miranda Harumal, Chief Executive Officer of ADMC.
Additionally, ADMC recently donated 150 food baskets to the residents of Program Perumahan Rakyat Termiskin (PPRT) in Lembah Subang as part of its food aid programme.
MHK also extends the initiative to the greater Klang community by participating in the white flag movement where families and individuals who are in dire need can contact the hospital for dry provisions which will then be delivered to their homes directly by the hospital staff.
Located at the hospitals’ main entrances, the Food Banks at both hospitals are open between 9.00 am to 5.00 pm daily on a first come, first served basis.
ADMC also welcomes contributions of non-perishable food items from members of the public. Donations can be dropped off at the hospital’s concierge on the ground floor between 9.00 am to 5.00 pm daily.
Manipal Hospitals Klang was recently acquired by Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care Group. With this acquisition, RSDH owns four hospitals in Malaysia. RSDH also has three JCI-accredited hospitals in Indonesia and a Day Surgery Centre in Hong Kong. For more information on the food banks initiatives, please call ADMC at 019 388 4870 and MHK at 03-3884 3884. For general enquiries and appointments, please call ADMC at 03-5639 1212 and MHK at 03-3884 3884.
