Macau businesswoman and president of the International Cultural Club of Portugal (ICCP), Emily Kuo Vong, has donated medical supplies – including 100 ventilators – to Portugal’s Health Service (SNS) to assist the country in its effort to deal with COVID-19, according to CLBrief.
The supplies have already arrived in Lisbon, Portugal.
Vong has also said she plans to invest in Portugal, as well as support cultural events.
The supplies sent to the SNS include – other than the 100 ventilators – 8 Automatic Nucleic Acid Extraction Machines, as well as 20,480 RNA Extraction and Purification Kits. The dispatch from China was arranged by the Embassy of Portugal in Beijing and the equipment arrived on May 4.
The medical supplies sent to Portugal will be distributed to Santa Maria, São João, São Francisco Xavier, Lusíadas Cascais and other main hospitals in the continent and the Madeira islands, to support them to test and treat patients with COVID-19.
While ventilators allow for critical COVID-19 patients to breathe, Automatic Nucleic Acid Extraction Systems are able to test almost 100 samples in only 40 minutes with considerable accuracy.
This is 9 times more efficient than the manual operation that normally takes 6 hours doing the same tests. It improves the detective process of the SARS-CoV-2 virus faster and more effectively, helping healthcare professionals in the combat of this pandemic.
Vong was directly involved with her team in preparing for the shipment of goods and documents, to coordinate different departments, and to arrange for cargo transportation.
The donation is intended not only to assist Portugal’s SNS in the current health emergency but also to facilitate the communication and cooperation in medical treatment and research between Portugal and China.
CLBrief has also learned that the businesswoman intends to invest in 13 automatic production lines in Northern Portugal, for the manufacturing of protective suits, surgical masks and medical protective masks for both adults and children, meeting EU standards with high quality. This is intended to be a contribution to the development of the Portuguese economy, increasing employment opportunities.
“I want to contribute and support healthcare professionals who joined the battle against this pandemic every day. These are the first donations. I will continue to donate more essential supplies to help with the success of fighting against the pandemic in this beautiful country”, said Vong.
Vong invested in many enterprises, cultural institutions, and non-profit organisations in America, Asia and Europe. In Portugal, she established Dimalu S.A, International Cultural Center Monte Real, Shining Square Lda., as well as ICCP.
The Macau philanthropist is also an outstanding artist and is the president of the International Federation for Choral Music, which was established in 1982 as an appointment of UNESCO, as well as the official representative of choral music on the International Music Council. In the summer of 2019, she sponsored and supported World Choral Expo 2019 in Portugal, which involved more than 600 singers from 50 countries.
With all the cultural events in 2020 cancelled or postponed due to the outbreaks, the philanthropist also intends to secure 10 cultural shows including dance, music and fado, so as to support artists.
(CLBrief/Macau News)
