BHL presented the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) with $25,000 worth of Rapid Response Test Kits for use by the country’s military forces.
Major David Clarke CVO, ADC, co-coordinator of the National Vaccination Campaign, thanked the company for the donation. He explained that since the BDF played an integral role in the Government’s COVID-19 response team – particularly in the transportation of high and medium risk patients from their homes to the government isolation facilities – members of their unit were in constant contact with COVID-19 positive patients.
Even though team members routinely use full Personal Protective Equipment in the execution of these duties, the drivers undergo weekly testing. He said the donation of the diagnostic kits was therefore timely and appreciated.
This is not the first time this year that BHL has lent its support to the national COVID-19 relief effort. In April, as part of its corporate social responsibility drive, the company donated BBD $60, 000 to the National Vaccine Fund to cover the acquisition of 600 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.
Since then, the company has been working closely with different governmental agencies to offer on-site mass testing and mass vaccination clinics for staff and members of the surrounding community. Most recently, the company hosted public drive-thru vaccine clinics at the Banks Brewery car park in Newton, Christ Church in November and December.
During the presentation of the test kits, BHL’s manager of people, legal & corporate affairs, Lisa Ridley-Paul, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the COVID-19 fight.
“We are happy to donate these test kits to the Barbados Defence Force, and we are confident that they will be put to best use.
Here at the BHL Group, we remain fully supportive of the Government’s COVID-19 campaigns and vaccination efforts. We firmly believe that achieving full vaccination of our eligible population is the first step to getting back to life. We will continue to assist the national effort,” she said. (PR)
