KUALA LUMPUR (May 14): The Edge Covid-19 Equipment Fund sent 33 ventilators and five oxygen concentrators to Hospital Sungai Buloh today for the treatment of Covid-19 patients, in response to the surge in cases requiring treatment in intensive care units and respiratory aid.

"The reports by the Ministry of Health that usage of critical and intensive care unit beds for treating Covid-19 patients in the Klang Valley has reached 90% is of great concern to all of us," said The Edge Media Group's chief executive officer and publisher Datuk Ho Kay Tat.

"We hope that these 33 ventilators will help ease the demand for ventilators at the hospital," he added.

The Ministry of Health's secretary-general Datuk Mohd Shafiq Abdullah received the medical equipment on behalf of the hospital, which is currently devoted to the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

Also present were hospital director Dr Kuldip Kaur, deputy state health director (management) of Selangor State Health Department Wong Kim Han @ Robert and The Edge Media Group's chairman Datuk Tong Kooi Ong.

Ho added that The Edge will send 500,000 medical-grade three-ply masks to the hospital over the next week, and help source for more nitrile medical gloves from glove manufacturers to meet the needs of hospitals.

The fund last month delivered three oxygen concentrators and over 200,000 face masks and protective gowns to Hospital Sungai Buloh.

"We say thank you so much for the kind support from The Edge. We welcome the spirit of shared governance," said Shafiq.

To date, the fund has donated over 120 ventilators, 100 oxygen concentrators and over RM1.3 million worth of personal protective equipment to more than 30 hospitals, including those in Sabah and Sarawak, and over 60 district clinics in Peninsular Malaysia since the start of the pandemic.

The Edge Covid-19 Pandemic Funds were started in late March last year, during the first Movement Control Order, with two funds — The Edge Covid-19 Equipment Fund, which has raised RM14.62 million, while The Edge Covid-19 Health Care Workers Support Fund has received RM10.54 million for a total sum of RM25.16 million.