● SK chemicals` Fight MERS Blood Drive
“Donations toward economic recovery when employees donate blood”
- All SK business locations to participate starting with the SK Plasma blood derivative facility on July 2.
- SK Group affiliates to donate blood and SK to donate Onnuri gift certificates.
To overcome the recent economic downturn due to the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak, President Man-hun Park of SK chemicals has initiated relay blood drives at all business locations.
SK chemicals announced that the company has established measures to help overcome the recent MERS outbreak. It will begin a company-wide blood drive effort on July 2, donating an Onnuri traditional-market gift certificate for each employee that participates.
The idea for the event was conceived in the hope that private enterprises could provide a boost to the sluggish domestic economy resulting from concerns associated with the MERS outbreak.
President Man-hun Park of SK chemicals stated, "Even though we`re unable to provide direct assistance to those suffering from MERS or battling the disease on the medical forefront, we strongly felt the need to help in any way possible being in the position of a company that develops vaccines." He continued, "These measures were set in motion in the hope that we could help jumpstart the economy and bring MERS under control."
Members of SK chemicals explained that the number of personal and group blood donations have declined sharply in the aftermath of the recent MERS scare, and after hearing about the decrease in blood supplies, SK chemicals established its blood drive initiative starting at the new SK Plasma factory in Andong, the country`s leading plasma facility.
SK chemicals will match the number of blood-donating employees with Onnuri gift certificates and deliver these donations to those suffering from MERS via proper channels.
By donating an Onnuri gift certificate with a value of ₩100,000 (approx. $90 USD) for every employee that donates blood, SK chemicals will provide a much-needed boost to traditional markets and small businesses suffering from economic difficulties.
Beginning on June 25 at the SK headquarters until July 8, the SK Group will conduct voluntary blood drives throughout South Korea at all company locations with at least 100 employees. The SK Group currently employs approximately 80,000 people.
SK chemicals` L-House, the largest domestic vaccine factory, and SK Plasma, a plasma derivatives facility, employ a total of 269 people in the city of Andong and are currently producing SKYCellflu, a cell-culture trivalent influenza vaccine.
[Photo]
July 2 - Employees of SK chemicals` vaccine factory L-House and blood derivative specialist SK Plasma participating in the "Fight MERS Blood Drive" in Andong.