Telus has announced it is donating over 10,000 wireless devices with free monthly plans to keep hospitalized COVID-19 patients connected to their families. The company says the value of the donation is worth over $5 million dollars.
Hundreds of organizations nationwide will benefit from the Telus donation, allowing COVID-19 patients to stay connected virtually with family. The donation will also benefit seniors, low-income families, homeless and at-risk individuals “with a much needed lifeline to families, health practitioners and vital social support services during this complex time,” says Telus.
“The TELUS team is deeply committed to keeping our country’s most vulnerable citizens safe and connected during this health emergency,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. “Working in concert with our partners, we have expanded our Mobility for Good program to ensure those most impacted by COVID-19,” added Entwistle.
One immediate beneficiary of the Telus donation is the Mt Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, for its 300 COVID-19 patients, to allow them to connect with families. Dr. Allan Detsky CM, Former Physician in Chief, said, “once a patient is intubated, they cannot answer the phone, but will be able to see and hear loved ones on the device. This will provide solace for the family especially, and staff who are watching people die alone, unable to comfort them.”
Other organizations set to receive donations of devices from Telus include Fondation du CHUM in Montreal; Alliance for Healthier Communities in Ontario; Central City Foundation in Vancouver; and Sage Seniors Association in Edmonton, for example.
The company says it has already given out over 6,000 mobile devices with free nationwide talk and text and 3GB of data per month, as part of its Telus Mobility For Good COVID-19 Emergency Response program.
Earlier this month, Telus donated tablets to isolated seniors in care homes in North Saanich on Vancouver Island, allowing them to video chat with families.
