SingTel to Help SARS Hospitals

Singapore's SingTel says that it is providing US$11,000 worth of mobile phones and mobile phone services to the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) managed by Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) which is currently treating SARS patients.

This contribution is in addition to SingTel's on-going support for The Courage Fund through the company's corporate philanthropy programme, the SingTel Touching Lives Fund.

Sixty mobile phones and 60 pre-paid hi!cards have been given to the CDC for use by SARS patients and those who are quarantined at the Centre.

Mr Lucas Chow, CEO of SingTel Mobile and Chairman of the SingTel Touching Lives Fund Committee, said: "We learnt from TTSH that the patients in the subsidised wards in CDC will welcome additional phone facilities. Our contribution will help patients stay in touch with their families and friends during the quarantine period."

Mr Chow added: "We believe that nurses will also find it easier now to conduct their contact tracing interviews with the patients, which are necessary in order to contain the spread of SARS. With patients having mobile phones, nurses can call the patients in the quarantine wards from the nurses stations. This is certainly more efficient as they need to speak to each patient several times daily to verify and fill in gaps in information."

Posted to the site on 30th April 2003