Bell donating 1.5M face masks to Canadian healthcare and frontline workers
Bell announced it has acquired 1.5 million protective face masks and the company will be donating them to help equip healthcare and other frontline public workers throughout Canada in the fight against the pandemic.
The N95 and KN95 masks are being donated to the federal, provincial, and territorial governments for distribution in “every region of the country,” according to Canada’s largest communications company.
“Healthcare professionals, first responders and public servants of all kinds are working courageously to keep Canadians safe and well as our country copes with COVID-19, and many have been facing shortages of the protective equipment they need to do their jobs safely and effectively,” said Mirko Bibic, president and CEO of Bell Canada. “Bell is proud to put our scale and global reach to work to help protect the people on the front lines of public health and safety with this donation.”
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The company says it was able to acquire the masks, valued at roughly $7.5 million, through multiple logistic partners. Bell reports being able to leverage its “global procurement network” to source personal protective equipment (PPE) for its own members and the additional 1.5 million masks.
Bell says it is delivering the masks in partnership with the company’s subsidiary Northwestel to enable “rapid distribution.”
“Since the COVID-19 situation began, Bell has been guided by two principles: the dedication of all our resources to ensuring we keep Canadians connected and informed throughout the crisis, and doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of our customers, the public and the Bell team,” said Bibic.
Prior to the masks donations, Bell Let’s Talk increased its mental health funding by $5 million and gave hospitals, shelters, and social agencies complimentary phones and airtime.
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