KTC reveals guidelines to help society in response to the adaptation of life with COVID-19, including the adoption of online channels and cooperation with members and 60 charity organisations.

KTC adjusts its business plan in the donation category to be in line with the new way of living. KTC positions itself as a mediator between KTC credit cardmembers and over 60 charity alliances to help society in various dimensions. The Firm is accelerating the development of a donation module via offline, online, and the "KTC Mobile" application channels. Most recently, KTC now accepts credit card donations via QR Pay and point redemption via QR Points on the KTC Mobile app for members to enjoy easier and more convenient access to donations, avoid travel, and reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

Ms. Sireerat Corvanich, Vice President - Credit Card Business, “KTC”orKrungthai Card Public Company Limited,states, “KTC understands and recognizes its roles and responsibilities related to society. KTC hopes to be a contributor to build a better and sustainable society, and has been doing so in a variety of ways. This includes volunteer work or providing funding for various projects. Over the past 15 years, KTC has acted as a medium for public relations to support projects and activities between the foundations and its members. Additionally, KTC launched channels to accept donations via credit cards for KTC members to pass on to more than 60 foundations or charities. In 2020, over 50 million KTC FOREVER points were donated via KTC credit cards, with a total donation amount of 300 million baht.”

"Regarding the current COVID-19 epidemic situation that is intense and rapid, the most important mission that KTC must execute is to cooperate with various foundations with enthusiasm and timeliness to reach people who need help in a variety of ways and in a timely manner. This includes aiding infected patients and those in quarantine, helping hospitals that lack medical equipment and supplies, or building shelter to support patients classified in the green group in other provinces. It is of utmost importance to coordinate with relevant various foundations and offer donation channels for KTC members to strengthen support and thoroughly and equally help those affected.”

Dr. Bunjongsek Supsopha, National Director, Community Children Foundation (CCF) Under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn,said, “The Foundation has been working to help children and youth in Thailand for 64 years in 3 focus areas: 1. Developing Thai children and youth to have a good quality of life; 2. Developing children and youth in the community to grow up to be productive members of society for the future of the country; 3. Focus on working in tandem with partner networks such as KTC, the public and private sectors. and charities, and 4. Adjust operations to be efficient and in line with changing situations such as the COVID-19.”

“The impact of COVID-19 has caused the foundation to adjust in many aspects. This includes operations that have to change from the old model to online formats to maintain distance, such as children visits and activity implementation with community leaders or schools. In the past, the foundation has received quite a lot of support from KTC members in the form of credit card service point redemptions and PR. During this COVID-19 epidemic, the Foundation would like to encourage various network partners and volunteers to join force to alleviate the impact of this outbreak. Recently, CCF has set up community isolation centers and local quarantinesin provincial areas to provide proper care for Green-coded COVID-19 patients with mild symptom. This is considered crucial as most community isolation centers are usually located in Bangkok or its perimetres. At present, CCF have support centers in a total of 37 up-country locations and are about to offer 16 more. However, there is still a shortage of medical supplies, food, and essential supplies needed to provide good care for patients.”

Mr. Khan Prachuabmoh, Director of the Fund Raising Bureau, The Thai Red Cross Society,states, “The Thai Red Cross Society is a charitable organization with a mission to alleviate suffering and help those in distress in society. As a result of the COVID-19 situation, The Thai Red Cross Society is also affected in many aspects, including 1. Insufficient medical services, personnel, and medical equipment that cannot support the ever-growing number of patients who wish to receive treatment, of which is a growing trend; 2. Blood services experiencing a crisis as people are not confident in donating because of safety concerns, and 3. Fundraising funds used to manage assistance did not go as planned because people have less capacity to donate. The fact that KTC is a partner in disseminating news and organizing various campaigns to increase the number of donations received through KTC's channels greatly expanded the opportunity for people to have access to this support. The proceeds collected from donations will be used to help people in various missions, including medical treatment, relief of suffering, victims, blood services, and quality of life. This also includes an urgent situation at the moment, which is to help and remedy those affected by COVID-19.”

“The Thai Red Cross Society currently has a mobile kitchen project that cooks food for people affected by COVID-19, distributes relief bags to those in quarantine and elders who cannot help themselves, COVID patients and care for the infected at Chulalongkorn Hospital, hospitals and those participating in home isolation with a total average of 800-900 people per day. Moreover, the Foundation is accelerating the construction of field hospitals and the purchasing of medical equipment to treat COVID patients. Apart from credit card donations, KTC members may donate by redeeming points into donations funds to contribute to various projects of the Thai Red Cross Society. Members may also stay up to date with Thai Red Cross Society’s news through every KTC channel as well.”

Ms. Chutarat Wiboolsmai, Resource Development Director,Operation Smile Thailand,expresses, “Operation Smile” is a non-profit medical charity founded in the United States in 1982 and officially established in Thailand in 1997. The core mission is to provide free and safe corrective surgeries to children and young adults born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate, including patients with burn scars, syndactyly (fused or webbed fingers), polydactyly (extra fingers) and other facial deformities. The Foundation has partnered with KTC in accepting donations via credit cards continuously since 2014. Moreover, KTC employees also volunteered to assemble patient medical record files which were used to collect medical information about patients who will undergo surgeries by the medical volunteers team from Operation Smile Thailand.”

“During the COVID situation, the Foundation is unable to host “Weeklong Medical Missions”  in order to provide surgery in up-country areas. Normally, each year, the Missions are planned to be hosted around 4 times annually in 4 different provinces, with the duration of 7 days and an average of 80-100 surgeries per Mission. Despite this, the Foundation still carries out “Ongoing Medical Mission” projects by providing financial support to local hospitals in different provinces across Thailand that have the ability to perform surgeries and have the necessary team of multi-disciplinary healthcare providers. Consequently, the Foundation was able to support the patients by continuously and consistently perform corrective surgery on patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate. Treatments for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate usually require more than 1 corrective surgery; in fact, some patients will have to undergo at least 3-5 surgeries throughout their lifetime. On top of this, there is also a project called "Smile Box". Each box contains diapers, powdered milk, face masks, school supplies, educational brochures on child care, and special baby bottles that are specifically made for cleft lip and palate children, to be sent to pediatric patients we have operated on, and those that are waiting for surgery. Approximately 200 boxes were sent out. In terms of plans for next year, when the COVID situation improves, the Foundation hopes to be able to deploy mobile medical units to locations that still need medical attention.”

Ms. Arunee Achakulwisut, Associate Private Sector Partnerships Service Officer, UNHCR,said, Agency  “UNHCR, the UN Refugee has been established for over 70 years to provide international protection to people forced to flee their homes due to war and conflict. Currently, there are 82.4 million displaced people worldwide and UNHCR is working to support them in 135 countries. We have been working in Thailand for 46 years.”

“The coronavirus has proven that it does not discriminate against race, religion, or groups of people. Refugees are also affected and they are at risk due to a variety of limitations. UNHCR has mobilized our efforts to keep refugees and internally displaced people safe from the coronavirus with life-saving support, including water, medical care and hygiene materials such as soaps and face masks. We support communication efforts on prevention measures, such as handwashing, social distancing, isolation from infected people and where to access health-care services.”

“The refugee crisis requires collaboration from all sectors. Currently, UNHCR has many individual donors who make committed giving through credit card. On average, globally, a person becomes a refugee for 17 years; hence, the long term contribution is essential for UNHCR to provide enough support to make a difference in their lives. Donating through KTC credit card is secured, simple, yet creates sustainable change. Our upcoming projects involve providing scholarships for refugees as only 3% of worldwide refugees have access to higher education. In addition, we will continue our relief efforts to emergencies such as the latest humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Please join us in giving opportunity and better future for refugees.”

Ms. Sireerat Corvanich, Vice President - Credit Card Business, “KTC”,concludes, “The era where distance and travel must be avoided to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is one of the reasons why foundations and charity organisations are faced with dwindling support from society. For these reasons, KTC is determined to develop a donation platform via offline, online, and the "KTC Mobile" application channels. Recently, online channels have been improved to accept credit card donations via QR Pay and point redemption via QR Points on the KTC Mobile app to facilitate KTC members to be able to participate and help society in easier and more convenient ways.”