13 May 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by a storm severely affecting world economies and industry. Equally worse hit was the aviation sector, where the passenger demands fell to a trickle forcing many airlines to ground a major chunk of their fleet and some airlines to completely shut down. During such times, many aviation companies came forward with a humanitarian approach to help tackle the pandemic. Etihad airways recognised this corporate social responsibility in a lot more ways than one.
Etihad Engineering developed face shields and PPE kits using their 3D-printing technology. These shields are certified by highest aviation standards and validated by the EAMC’s medical team to ensure protection. They are made using reusable plastic band which requires standard disinfection (similar to a mobile phone) and a disposable plastic shield which can be replaced with sheets found at any stationery store. Additional plastic sheets will be distributed with the face shields.
Dr. Nadia Al Bastaki, Vice President Medical Services at Etihad Aviation Group said, “As part of our CSR efforts, as an organisation we challenged ourselves to determine what we could do to help combat the effects of this global pandemic. With high demand for PPE in the UAE, our innovative design team at Etihad Engineering successfully developed 1,000 face shields for us to distribute locally.”
“With the logistical support of Emirates Red Crescent, we’ll start distributing the face shields to medical professionals at EAMC and SEHA this week.“
“An overwhelming number of our employees have selflessly put their hand up to volunteer, from working at call centres, to distributing masks and gloves and physically cleaning the streets of our capital city as part of the government’s sanitisation programme. “This year, Eid will not be the same for most. Therefore, in collaboration with Grace Conservation, we will be distributing 1,000 gift boxes to families in need containing clothes for adults and children,” said Dr Nadia.
Etihad has again partnered with Emirates Red Crescent to produce and deliver 1,000 meals per day to Humanitarian City, a month-long initiative which began on 15 April and will continue through Ramadan. 6,400 blankets were also donated to Humanitarian City.
“As Etihad Aviation Group, we are here to support the UAE government and fight this pandemic together,” added Dr Nadia.
Besides this, Etihad has also
– Donated over 1,000 units of essential supplies to SEHA, Emirates Foundation, ADNEC Field Hospital and Trade Centre Field Hospital with bags containing children’s activity packs and essential bathroom amenities.
– Etihad Airways has provided ventilators, masks, gloves and soap to refugees, and other displaced people by donating the airline’s loyalty programme Etihad Guest miles donation drives in collaboration with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) globally and with Emirates Red Crescent.
– 3,000 Etihad Airways employees have volunteered to support a number of government entities and initiatives including deployments to SEHA, Ma’an and Emirates Red Crescent.
– Over 800 staff volunteers alone have registered on the UAE Volunteers Platform, a community response to COVID-19.
