Bank South Pacific (BSP) in collaboration with the Samoa Chamber of Commerce has donated cash and in-kind supplies worth more than $60,000 to the Government of Samoa.
BSP Bank has donated $30,000 tala cash and supplies that had been identified as urgent needs of the emergency centres such bed linen, towels, water bottles, t-shirts, hats, storage containers, biodegradable rubbish bags, hand gloves and water.
In presenting the donation to the Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Center, Ulu Bismarck Crawley, BSP Samoa General Manager Taitu’uga Maryann Lameko-Vaai said, “The impact of this epidemic is devastating and whilst BSP has offered support for our own staff who are affected, we also wanted to contribute to the national efforts and programs by the government in mobilising the mass vaccination campaign to contain the measles epidemic.”
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and those who are still fighting for their lives. We also applaud the efforts of the government, hospital staff, volunteer groups, prayer warriors, donor partners and ordinary people who are doing extraordinary things,” said Taitu’uga.
The Chairman of NEOC expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the donation saying, “This signifies the important role of the private sector in partnership with the government especially during hard times such as these. The government wishes to thank the Board and staff of BSP for this generous donation”.
The measles epidemic in Samoa has claimed 39 lives to date, more than half of whom are babies under 12 months old. Efforts continue to try and contain the outbreak with close to three thousand reported cases.
