25 November 2020 – Eurokars Group has become the first automotive company and private sector corporate entity in Singapore to make a donation of an ambulance to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and National Centre for Infectious Diseases (TTSH-NCID), amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the peak of the pandemic, TTSH's ambulances were deployed for the safe transfer of COVID-19 patients from NCID to the Community Isolation Facilities and Community Care Facilities and those waiting for swab results to the Swab Isolation Facilities. Now, while the transportation of COVID-19 cases has reduced, the ambulances which are decontaminated and wiped down thoroughly after each transfer are also used for shuttling the hospital's inpatients within the campus for their medical appointments or to other hospitals for treatment.
The Eurokars donation will join an existing fleet of ambulances that are in service around the clock, to provide vital aid and boost the inter and intra transfer of patients within and outside of the hospital campus.
Besides being fully equipped with emergency and life support facilities and trolley bed access, it has an additional auto retractable wheelchair ramp to accommodate wheelchair access.
The ambulance was officially handed over to TTSH-NCID by the Executive Chairman of Eurokars Group, Mr Karsono Kwee, during a handover ceremony on 25 November 2020 at TTSH. The Chief Operating Officer of TTSH, Dr Jamie Mervyn Lim, and Clinical Director of NCID, Dr Shawn Vasoo, accepted the generous donation.
Mr Kwee said: "Eurokars Group believes in the power of automobiles in enhancing the lives of people and empowering them to fulfil their aspirations, and meet their daily needs and requirements. Our donation of a fully-equipped ambulance to TTSH-NCID is in line with the Group's mission of contributing and making a positive impact on our society."
"While the number of cases in the community has declined and we are transitioning to phase 3 of the re-opening of the economy in Singapore, the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the global economy and it has claimed not just lives but also jobs and livelihoods worldwide. Throughout this health crisis, we have seen heroic efforts by individuals and healthcare providers such as TTSH-NCID and its dedicated staff to protect and preserve the health and lives of the community. By supporting TTSH-NCID with our donation of an ambulance, we derive satisfaction in knowing that we are able to reach out and help those in need to access life-sustaining care and treatment not just during the pandemic but at all times," he added.
Dr Jamie Mervyn Lim, Chief Operating Officer of TTSH, said, "The outpouring support for healthcare institutions and healthcare workers from the community has been tremendous. Pandemic or not, our ambulances play a critical role in supporting our patient movement. We are extremely delighted and appreciative of Eurokars Group's generous donation of an ambulance to TTSH-NCID."
This contribution to TTSH-NCID is the latest in a sequence of similar donations. Recently in 2017, the Group donated a vehicle which it modified for wheelchair access to SPD, formerly known as Society for the Physically Disabled. Prior to that, the Group made a co-donation, together with the Rotary Club, of a vehicle which was modified for wheelchair access to the Tan Tock Seng Patient Care Centre, and also sponsored a vehicle for The Red Cross.
CSR continues to be an integral part of Eurokars Group. Over the years, the Group has championed many meaningful causes.
"While we constantly strive to achieve sustainable growth as a company and attain new benchmarks of performance, we will also continue to not just step forward in a crisis but also pro-actively make contributions that aim to enhance the health and well-being of the population which non-profit and public healthcare organisations such as the TTSH-NCID support and assist," said Mr Kwee.