The New Britain Palm Oil Limited (NBPOL) has offered a grant support program this week for the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Papua New Guinea.
NBPOL, New Britain Palm Oil Foundation and the Senior Management of NBPOL have collectively raised funds to support the efforts of Provincial Health Authorities (PHA) in the country to assist in the prevention and management of Covid-19.
NBPOL Group Chief Executive Officer Jamie Graham said the funds allocated will be for the purpose of procurement of Personal Protective Equipment and other medical kits to assist frontline workers and responders in their Covid-19 preparedness and response initiatives.
The PHAs to be be supported by this grant program are those from the Milne Bay, Oro, Morobe, West New Britain and New Ireland provinces. These are provinces that host NBPOL’s oil palm operations in the country.
Mr Graham said the pandemic is having a huge impact negatively on economies including Papua New Guinea with stress and uncertainty on governance and businesses. He said as a local business, NBPOL is affected by the global downturn, reduced activity in supply chain and decline in demand.
Mr Graham said NBPOL is aware of the current situation with the country’s public health system, and the challenges on human health are also the challenges faced by the company’s workforce. NBPOL therefore is keen in offering this grant to support the good work of the medical workers and frontline responders in the battle against the pandemic in the communities.
He said the PHAs have been notified of the support and once their requests come through, NBPOL will procure them using its well-established procurement system and deliver the health gear at the respective PHAs.
NBPOL is the largest employer in PNG after the Government.
