MSD provides P7.2M through partner organizations to support COVID-19 relief efforts in the Philippines
MSD in the Philippines, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A (NYSE: MRK) in the United States and Canada, announced that the healthcare company is providing PhP 7.2 million (150,000 USD) for COVID-19 relief to the local communities.
MSD has committed Php 7.2 million (US$150,000) to support COVID-19 response efforts in the Philippines through global humanitarian partner organizations – Americares, Direct Relief and Project HOPE. Our donations will help support these NGO partners in providing needed medical supplies, equipment and training for health care workers as well as assisting local COVID-19 vaccination campaigns and efforts to help control and prevent infection among vulnerable communities.
MSD’s latest contribution marks the company’s ongoing efforts to support COVID-19 relief measures in the Philippines. Since March 2020, MSD in the Philippines has partnered both with government and non-government institutions in a collective effort to respond to the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is an unrivaled scientific and global health challenge. As a company with a long legacy of research in infectious diseases, we recognize that we have a responsibility to help,” says Dr. Beaver Tamesis, President and Managing Director of MSD in the Phiippines.
Engaging with local communities will help in better understanding them which can facilitate quick assistance to their needs and ease the communities’ healing. MSD in the Philippines is committed to support the equitable recovery, and address the health, social and economic inequities of communities heavily impacted by the pandemic.
“For over 25 years, MSD in the Philippines has been helping address key health concerns such as access to healthcare services, and need for reliable information. Our collaboration and commitment to the communities we serve remain strong as we go through the pandemic,” says Tamesis.
Highlighted overview of MSD in the Philippines’ relief efforts since the pandemic outbreak
- Pandemic Playbook
MSD awarded a grant to Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership to develop a local government guide for finding sustainable solutions to the ongoing pandemic and beyond. The “Pandemic Playbook: A Local Chief Executive’s Guide to Handling COVID-19 and Other Future Pandemics” is a tool designed to help local leaders navigate the uncertainties and emerging challenges of public health emergencies. The Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO) is also part of this collaborative project.
- MSD Gives Back
In 2020, MSD in the Philippines participated in COVID-19 Relief Efforts for Frontliners and Hospitals, in partnership with the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP). PHAP members, including MSD in the Philippines, collectively donated P120 million for the country’s COVID-19 response, benefiting more than 1.5 million families and 155 health facilities nationwide. Beneficiaries included government and private hospitals, charitable institutions, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), among others.
In support of patients and medical frontliners amid the pandemic, the “Art for Healing” project was launched last year. The initiative involved compiling get-well-soon cards handmade by employees’ children and friends. MSD distributed these through hospitals as part of the patients’ breakfast trays. Appreciation cards were also sent to COVID frontliners for their bravery and inspiring work in these unprecedented times.
In 2021, MSD in the Philippines launched “5 X 5: MSD Gives Back”, 5 months of virtual volunteerism activities led by MSD employees, for the benefit of Kythe Foundation and Carewell Foundation:
- MSD employees hosted virtual sessions with pediatric cancer patients across the country, in partnership with Kythe Foundation. The sessions were aimed at bringing hope, encouragement and learning to kids as they go through their cancer journey.
- Volunteer subject matter experts organized webinars on topics relevant to cancer patients and caregivers, especially in the time of the pandemic, including health and wellness and navigating the digital world.
- For Mothers
As part of the MSD for Mothers global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life, MSD in the Philippines awarded a grant to an international non-profit health group based in the Philippines. Grantee organization Jhpiego has been dedicated to improving the health of women and families since the 1980s. The three-year project will focus on maternal health care improvement efforts in Sorsogon, the fourth most populous province in Bicol. The efforts of MSD for Mothers and collaborators are support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1 to eradicate preventable maternal deaths worldwide.
- Local Employee Support
To make a difference in people’s lives, empathy or malasakit sa kapwa encompasses the company’s conduct of business, particularly in how MSD looks after its employees, their families, and the patients it serves. During the pandemic, MSD actively listens to the needs of its employees by performing daily check-ins, team meetings, and virtual town hall meetings with the Managing Director. Employees receive updates about the COVID-19 situation, guidance on business operations, and employee support, and are highly encouraged to bring up their concerns to the country leadership team. Furthermore, MSD conducts surveys to come up with the right initiatives to address employees’ needs ranging from connectivity issues to challenges for employees whose children suddenly shifted to homeschooling or distance learning.
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