In the face of adversity, there will be those who need help in one way or another. COVID-19 has delivered hardship in its wake in every country it has gripped, including Malaysia. This disease has unearthed a level of global socioeconomic distress not seen by the world in a good while.
Some are hit harder than others. Many have been losing a portion or all of their income as large sections of the economy are closed during COVID-19 lockdowns. With each passing day under the coronavirus shadow, more and more are struggling to keep their heads above water. Closer to the action, there are also shortages of crucial medical equipment and resources in the battle against the deadly virus and front-liners need all the help they can get.
Heartwarmingly, humanitarian efforts are more apparent now than ever as the call of fellowship against COVID-19 rings loud from all four corners of the globe. Numerous official fundraising channels have been set up specifically for COVID-19 here in Malaysia and the world over to collect funds that will be disbursed to deserving parties afflicted by the crippling pandemic. If you are fortunate enough to be relatively unscathed by the effects of COVID-19, please consider finding your altruistic side and offering a much-needed slice of help to the needy. We have listed a few below for your perusal!
National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) Tabung COVID-19
This donation facility was set up by the Malaysian government on 11 March 2020 with the intention of helping Malaysians who have been directly affected by the virus. Donations can be sent to the following bank account, which is managed by NADMA:
16010001138714 (Bank Muamalat – Tabung Bantuan Bencana Negara)
Ministry of Health (MOH) Tabung COVID-19
Introduced by MOH in late March 2020, donations received through the bank account below will be used to acquire medical equipment and other health necessities such as medication and personal protective equipment (PPE) needed at the front lines of MOH facilities.
26601600023475 (RHB Bank – Sumbangan Perubatan KKM)
Tabung Covid-19: Bantu Jiran Kita
Translating to ‘Help Our Neighbours’, this is a charitable campaign to help Malaysian families affected by COVID-19 who are deprived of not only income, but food and other necessities. Donations through the link below will be used to purchase food items for the families.
kitafund.com/7524-tabung-covid-19-bantu-jiran-kita
World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
As perhaps the most prominent health authority on the planet, WHO is at the forefront of the COVID-19 offensive. Lend them your support in their combat efforts against COVID-19, which include arresting its spread and finding a vaccine, through the link below:
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Regional Emergency Appeal for COVID-19
UNICEF is scrambling to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 across the East Asia Pacific region, whose children are at risk of the disease. Among the priorities of this fund, which can be accessed by the link below, are virus prevention supplies and public education.
unicef.my/donations/coronavirus-appeal
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
The impact of COVID-19 on supply chains and accessibility among others has negatively affected the capacity to assist the deprived. Like many support pillars, the WFP requires a helping hand (link below), so they can feed children and families who are in urgent need of food.
donatenow.wfp.org/coronavirus/~my-donation
Shopping and eWallet Apps
Certain apps are also helping to funnel funds to tackle the COVID-19 challenge, with some even pitching in as well. If you haven’t installed these apps, click on the names below to go to each app’s website, where you can find the app download link for your device.
Online shopping giant Lazada for instance has implemented a donation collection initiative on its app. Simply type ‘lazadaforgood’ in the search box and you’ll be taken to a page listing organisations that are benefiting from this drive, such as front-liners, the less fortunate and others strained by the current climate. In some cases, Lazada will match your donations.
Shopee, another digital retail company, has inserted a donation platform within its app too. Key the word ‘donate’ into the search bar and look for ‘Shopee MMA Covid-19 Fund’ among the results. Clicking on that will send you to a new page, which details Shopee’s collaboration with the Malaysian Medical Association Foundation (MMAF). Donations will reach government and private medical front-liners.
Malaysian eWallet company, Boost, has also set up an in-app donation feature that allows users of the app to send a donation that will be used to support front-liners. MOH’s Tabung COVID-19 is a recipient of this fund. Look for a tile or link called ‘Tabung Covid-19’ on the home page of the app and click on it.
Other apps invite you to help in a slightly more indirect way. Fave (formerly Groupon Malaysia), an app where you can find lifestyle and food merchant deals as well as the FavePay eWallet, has come up with the #saveourfave movement which is intended to help keep F&B and retail businesses afloat during the MCO. App users can buy eCards of these companies to be used within six months, with deals that are typically worth more than their purchase price.
These are only some examples of donation channels out there, so keep your eyes peeled for more not on this list. We won’t be surprised if new fundraising avenues appear during and even after the COVID-19 lockdown period!