Press Releases

Budapest, March 25, 2004 14:00

Only 40% of the first-aid ambulance vehicles in Hungary are equipped with a modern, mobile respirator. With the help of the "Additions from Matáv" Program, one more vehicle of the National Ambulance Service was equipped with an instrument ensuring up-to-date services. The equipment facilitates the work of ambulance doctors attending the most serious cases, and can help both children and adults. This morning, this life-saving instrument worth nearly HUF 2 million was handed over to the Bázis Mentõállomás (Base Ambulance Station) of the 13th District.

"This instrument is an indispensable tool if we want to provide modern health care of an appropriate quality. It can help us first of all in the most serious cases. It is a special equipment, as - contrary to the older, outdated instruments - it can be used both for children and adults," said Dr. Ágnes Berente, Senior Doctor of the Base Ambulance Station. There are 150 first-aid ambulance cars in Hungary, out of which only 91 are equipped with a similar instrument; but even so, 30% of the existing devices are already outdated types and ought to be replaced.

The idea of fund-raising came from the "Gyermekünk az Életünk" (Our Child is Our Life) Foundation. This Foundation helps to improve the working conditions at the ambulance stations in order to increase the survival chances of the patients. The Foundation submitted its application to the Board of Trustees of Matáv's "Additions from Matáv" Program; as a result of the request, the Base Ambulance Station was granted HUF 1,830,000 for the purchase of the life-saving instrument.

"Solutions for the most serious health problems are given a high priority when donations are awarded by the "Additions from Matáv" Program. Within this area, the health care of the new generations, the children is given top priority. In all cases we try to provide the most appropriate, efficient and direct help," says Gyula Szabó, Head of Matáv's "Additions from Matáv" Program.

Through its donation activities, Matáv as a responsible corporate citizen considers it extremely important to participate in supporting health and social organizations in need of help, in this way expressing the Company's sensitivity to the problems of the society and the community. The extent of its commitment is indicated also by the fact that more than 30 of the 100 beneficiaries of the initiative "Civil Tariff Package" launched in March 2004 (offering an average discount of 30% from the fee of national wired telecommunications services used by non-profit foundations and associations) work in the area of health care.