A steady and renewable access to medical equipment and supplies is key to the voluntary welfare organizations and care givers who administer aid to and improve the quality of life of those in need. Recognising this, as a leading medical and health care exhibition in the very business of bringing the latest medical products, equipment and supplies to the forefront, Messe Düsseldorf Asia, the organizer of MEDICAL FAIR ASIA, launches its corporate social responsibility initiative: REAFFIRMING VALUES – Caring Beyond Business.
This initiative aims to raise both monetary and donations-in-kind in the form of medical equipment and supplies in support of Metta Hospice Care, a programme by Metta Welfare Association and supported by Community Chest.
“For Metta Hospice Care, providing free palliative and home hospice care to terminally ill patients is at the very heart of its calling. Extending MEDICAL FAIR ASIA’s reach as a trade exhibition that embarks on a different aspect of business – the business of social responsibility, we will involve the exhibition’s key stakeholders and align our altruistic values with the needs of Metta Hospice Care. Through this initiative, we hope to make a more direct contribution and a positive difference to the community,” says Gernot Ringling, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf Asia.
“We are confident exhibitors and visitors will join us in this effort, and are pleased to announce that at a corporate level Messe Düsseldorf Asia will donate S$1 for every visitor to MEDICAL FAIR ASIA 2012 which is expected to attract a strong crowd of 10,000 trade visitors,” he says.
According to Dr Ngiam Kee Yuan, Chairman of the Medical Committee of Metta Hospice Care, palliative care aims to alleviate suffering and maximize the quality of life of patients with terminal illnesses. He says, “We help our patients and their caregivers cope with the physical and psychosocial aspects of illness and dying. Monetary donations or donations in-kind will go a long way in helping our patients live with dignity through their last days."
“The total amount of cash donations raised from exhibitors, visitors and Messe Düsseldorf Asia will be matched dollar for dollar by the government for approved programmes, subject to the Community Silver Trust operating guidelines,” he adds. Registered as an Institute of Public Character (IPC), Metta Welfare Association is a beneficiary of the Community Silver Trust.
“It is heartening to see corporate partners like Messe Düsseldorf Asia embarking on such a holistic community initiative that not only gathers useful medical equipment and supplies but also raises funds for Metta Hospice Care. These supplies would be useful in alleviating suffering and maximise the quality of life for people in palliative care. It is through such philanthropic acts by corporate partners that enable us to continue supporting critical social service programmes for people in need and we thank Messe Düsseldorf Asia for this thoughtful gesture,” says Ms Tan Bee Heong, General Manager of Community Chest.
To ensure that the donation-in-kind matches Metta Hospice Care’s needs and requirements, exhibitors are strongly encouraged to donate the following items:
• Wheelchairs and hospital beds • Glucose strips
• Air viva sets • Dressings and wound dressing products
• Blood pressure monitoring machines • Unicept solution / normal saline solution
• Hypocount machines • Stethoscopes, syringes, thermometers
• Oxygen concentrators & accessories • Urinary catheters
• Flexiflo nasal feeding tubes • Adult Diapers
Besides cheque and telegraphic transfers (applicable for overseas donations only), exhibitors and visitors can make monetary donations online at www.comchest.sg/MDA.
The 9th edition of MEDICAL FAIR ASIA will take place on 12 – 14 September 2012 at Suntec Singapore. In its 15-year history, the exhibition has established a strong reputation with both local and international medical professionals as Asia’s most definitive medical and health care exhibition. In 2010, the exhibition saw a record participation of 475 exhibiting companies and 7,055 visitors. This year, MEDICAL FAIR ASIA returns to Singapore with a 50% expansion in floor space and is expected to attract more than 500 exhibiting companies from over 35 countries.
Editor’s note:
Please refer to Annex A and B for the logo of this corporate social responsibility initiative and photographs from Metta Hospice Care respectively. Images will be provided upon request.
For more information, please visit www.medicalfair-asia.com or contact:
Press contact: Exhibitor contact:
Teresa Chua Michelle Leong
Tel: (65) 6332 9621 Tel: (65) 6332 9682
Email: teresa@mda.com.sg Email: michelle@mda.com.sg
