- Preparations commence to minimise potential COVID-19 impacts in the West Pilbara
- Urgent call for corporate donations of personal hygiene supplies for remote communities
- MAC initiates collaborative planning and action management
Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) is helping drive a proactive approach towards the prevention and reduction of potential impacts from COVID-19 (coronavirus) in the West Pilbara.
Reaching out to industry partners and Prescribed Body Corporates (PBC), MAC Chief Executive Officer Peter Jeffries requested urgent collaborative planning and action take place by community leaders and members ahead of the virus reaching the region.
MAC Chief Executive Officer Peter Jeffries said “Aboriginal communities have been identified as highly vulnerable to the virus. Coupled with those who are elderly or suffer complex and chronic disease, the effects could be devastating.
“We need to act now and get ahead of the virus before it’s too late,” said Mr Jeffries.
Donations of personal hygiene supplies and the means to purchase them have been requested by MAC in order to distribute the supplies to community members in need and those in high risk areas.
Immediately responding to the call for assistance, the world’s largest ammonium production facility Yara donated $20,000, energy infrastructure giant Jemena donated $10,000 in addition to attempting to source urgent supplies through their own channels. Renewable energy and environmental company Engie donated $5,000 and donations and assistance from local businesses and partners, including ATCO, are continuing to be received with more needed.
An urgent meeting amongst PBC leaders has also been called by Mr Jeffries and will convene in the coming days to collaboratively prepare as much as possible for the fast-moving coronavirus which is yet to reach the West Pilbara.
Image credit: Marg Bertling (Pilbara Site Pics)