Shenzhen has donated cash and materials equal to2.79 billion yuan (US$398 million) to other cities and provinces in the country to help fight COVID-19.
Among them, around2 billion yuan of materials were provided by enterprises, individuals and social organizations, and714 million yuan of materials were donated through charitable organizations, the Shenzhen Charity Foundation said Saturday.
“In the fight against the novel coronavirus, Shenzhen enterprises, social organizations and residents actively took part in and formed concerted anti-virus efforts,” Fang Tao, executive deputy chairperson of the Shenzhen Charity Foundation, said.
China Construction Southern Environment Shareholding Co. Ltd. has donated air purifiers to Hubei and Shenzhen hospitals and joined hands with the Yangfan Project, a national education aid program, to send700,000 masks to200 schools in remote areas in Yunnan, Sichuan and Gansu provinces.
“Each kids in the schools will get10 masks, and another3.8 million masks will be sent to the schools,” Ruan Xiangrong, a program coordinator, said at an interview.
The Tencent Charity Foundation has set up a special fund of1.5 billion yuan for the fight against the coronavirus.
“The establishment of the fund is aimed to show respect to people, especially medics, fighting at the frontline and also improve medical facilities, research and capabilities of the general public in preventing the virus through cooperation with professional institutions,” Sun Yi, Tencent Charity Foundation’s deputy secretary general, said at an interview.
Other companies like Vanke and CITIC Securities donated materials, and China Merchant Group and SF Express offered free logistical services to transport the materials badly needed in virus-hit regions.
Besides donations, some social organizations, including the Shenzhen Lawyers Association, offered free legal services to disputes arising from coronavirus prevention and control, while the Shenzhen Taxi Association helped install prevention screens inside cabs to separate passengers and drivers. The Shenzhen Social Workers Association developed online psychological consultations for people who have to stay home for quarantine.