Sofia/Prague, May 4, 2020 – Telenor and its mother company PPF Group donated 50,000 N95 masks worth nearly 500,000 levs to the Ministry of Health to strengthen the country’s efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Bulgarian Health Ministry, in coordination with the National Operational Staff, will distribute the donation to medical establishments in coronavirus hotspots in immediate need of supplies.
The donation was officially handed over by Telenor Chief Executive Officer Jason King to the Bulgarian Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev.
Recognizing the continuous need for medical supplies and protective equipment, PPF and Telenor pledged support to those on the front lines of this fight with the biggest single private donation of masks in Bulgaria since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic.
“Social responsibility has always been in PPF ́s DNA. As coronavirus continues to impact the societies and economy around the world, all health workers deserve our greatest respect and appreciation and we feel obliged to act. Through this donation to he Bulgarian government we would like to support the healthcare professionals and the entire community in their effort to contain the pandemic”, said Ladislav Bartonicek, CEO, PPF Telecom Group.
“We are thankful to all medical professionals in Bulgaria for their ongoing, selfless sacrifice during this pandemic”, said Jason King, Telenor CEO. “In addition to the donation towards respirators, monitors and hospital beds to Pirogov Hospital ICU, we continue to support our country with fighting this pandemic in a most meaningful way.”
The N95 respirator face masks are of the highest-class masks used to protect from airborne particles and from liquids contaminating the face, including COVID-19. N95 mask are critical supplies reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first-line
personnel for their high protection properties and are not recommended for use by the general public.
This donation of PPF for the Bulgarian medical community fighting the pandemic, adds on to Telenor’s BGN 200,000 donation in March for the purchase of critical medical equipment for Sofia’s Pirogov Hospital new intensive care unit where coronavirus patients are being treated. The company added numerous benefits for its customers to help them keep in touch with their loved ones, run their business and receive important information during the COVID19 emergency. Telenor donated more than 70 computers for online education to children in need in various communities across the country.
Telenor calls on all its clients to help fight the spread of coronavirus and join the company’s initiative to Stay at Home.
About PPF Group
PPF is an international investment group with strong roots in the Czech Republic. The Group operates in 24 countries across 3 continents. PPF Group’s companies span a number of business segments from financial services through to telecommunications,
biotechnology, real estate and mechanical engineering. Through its subsidiaries, PPF Group is one of the Top-10 taxpayers in the Czech Republic. The Group owns assets exceeding EUR 47 billion (as of June 30, 2019).
www.ppf.eu
About Telenor
Telenor is a leading telecommunication services provider with more than 3 million active
users in Bulgaria. As of August 1, 2018, Telenor Bulgaria, along with Telenor Hungary
and Telenor Serbia & Montenegro are part of PPF Group.
www.telenor.bg