Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1245222
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MAY 2020 14 COMMERCIAL BAD Boy Cleaners employees donated their time to residents at Dar tal-Providenza to fill in for regular cleaning staff who cannot report for work because of the ongoing emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic meant that employees and vol- unteers at Dar tal-Providenza were forced to drastically lim- it their working hours to stay with their families and observe social distancing rules. In the situation, Bad Boy Cleaners came forward to support Dar tal-Providenza with compli- mentary cleaning and mainte- nance services by professional staff. Claudine Ellul Sullivan, Bad Boy Cleaners managing di- rector, said that the company understood immediately that the outbreak would impact the residents at Dar tal-Providenza adversely and offered to help with what they can do best. "We are proud of our employ- ees for the commitment and drive they have shown," she said. "Since my father founded the company fifty years ago, Bad Boy Cleaners has always kept close to people in vulnerable conditions." The director of Dar tal-Prov- idenza, Fr Martin Micallef, thanked the management and employees at Bad Boy Cleaners for their generosity and "im- peccable" service to residents. "The initiative by Bad Boy Cleaners came at just the right time," he said, explaining how Dar tal-Providenza experi- enced a sharp drop in funds and volunteers in the wake of the pandemic, while many reg- ular employees had to cut back their time. "This is a tough period for residents who depend on the goodwill of hundreds of indi- viduals and companies for their care." The Bad Boys Cleaners man- aging director said that the business community in Malta has an important role to play during the coronavirus emer- gency and encouraged other companies to do their share. Dar tal-Providenza finds timely support in Bad Boy Cleaners FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE, a nonprofit foundation of the MAPFRE Group, has donated 100,000 facemasks to Malta. During an event held this week at Min- istry of Health, MAPFRE Middlesea Chairman Martin Galea and MAPFRE Malta CEO Felipe Navarro presented the donation to Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne and Ing. Karl Farrugia from the Ministry of Health. This initiative forms part of a global programme whereby Fundación MAP- FRE has allocated a budget of €35 mil- lion to support a range of urgent medi- cal and community needs. These funds address the shortage of critical supplies for medical professionals and first re- sponders in 27 countries around the world. MAPFRE Malta CEO Felipe Navar- ro said that the company recognised that these uncertain times have created unique challenges for everyone. "This pandemic is generating hard- ships for millions around the world, and stretching the resources of countries of all sizes. However, we do see a silver lin- ing in all this," he said. "We see the emergence of a nationwide desire to be of service to the most vul- nerable amongst us. We see an opportu- nity for solidarity and giving something back to the local community, hence the contribution of the face masks by Fun- dación MAPFRE." MAPFRE Middlesea Chairman Martin Galea thanked all those working on the front lines of the COVID pandemic for their invaluable contribution in keeping us healthy and safe. He also praised the role of the Minister of Health and the Superintendent Prof. Chairman Gauci for the leadership they are demonstrating in these challenging times. Galea said that the courage and strength of all those involved in manag- ing this crisis are an important source of encouragement, shining a light amid the uncertainty which the country and the world are facing. "We are stronger together in times of crisis", he said. Karl Farrugia, Managing Director of the Sourcing & Supply Chain Management within the Central Procurement and Supplies Unit of the Health Department, said that these masks will be distributed to healthcare workers as first responders within the national health system. Fearne thanked Fundación MAPFRE for supporting health workers during these challenging times. He said that though Government is making sure to stock up on personal protective equipment, initiatives such as this, from the private sector's end, will further help Malta to be prepared when facing a potential second wave of COV- ID-19 cases. Fundación MAPFRE donates 100,000 face masks to Malta