The nature of Covid-19 means patients who test positive have to be admitted immediately for treatment or isolation, and usually aren't given time to go back home and pack clothes before being hospitalised.

This will sometimes lead to the following scenario, where a Covid-19 patient at Gleneagles Hospital, a Bangladeshi migrant worker, did not have a clean set of clothes with him to wear when he was discharged.

In response to his need, one of the senior staff nurses brought a set of clothes from home for the patient.

However, the incident brought up a pressing issue.

Other Covid-19 patients who were rushed to the hospital could well find themselves in a similar predicament.

And so Gleneagles Hospital’s CEO Hui Hwa Koh-Minjoot alerted the hospital’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committee to help with this potential issue.

Gleneagles Hospital’s Assistant Director of Nursing Alice Teo was then assigned to help coordinate a “mini charity” drive from fellow hospital colleagues, colleagues' family & friends. The team managed to collect and prepare 60 packs of clothes and essential items as discharge packs for these patients.

The items in the pack include:

1) Bath towel

2) Shirt & shorts

3) Socks

4) Indian snack/ biscuit/ Chai tea bags

5) Vitamin C

6) Shampoo n body soap

7) Dettol Antiseptic wash

8) Hand sanitiser

9) Laundry detergent

Lots of packing:

Here's what Koh had to say about these tough times:

“This COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected many, regardless of nationality, race, or affluence. Migrant workers are especially vulnerable as many lack access to essentials, and are far away from the support of their family and loved ones.

We believe all of us can help stand in the gap during these times of uncertainty and provide assistance in our own ways. A pre-loved pair of shorts or hand sanitiser may seem basic to most, but it goes a long way to the less well-resourced.”

Here's their Facebook post.