There has been a commitment from Chinese billionaire and co-founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma, to donate masks, test kits, and protective suits to all countries in Africa to aid in the battle against the novel coronavirus.
A statement released on Monday revealed that The Jack Ma Foundation will donate a total of 1.1 million testing kits, six million masks, and 60,000 protective suits and face shields.
In addition, they will collaborate with local medical institutions in Africa to provide online training material for coronavirus clinical treatments.
Jack Ma’s statement read: “The world cannot afford the unthinkable consequences of a COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.”
He further added, “To combat the potential surging demand for medical supplies and equipment in Africa, Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation will donate to each one of the 54 African nations 20,000 testing kits, 100,000 masks, and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields.”
The supplies are set to be delivered to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will oversee the distribution to other African countries.
Furthermore, a statement by the Jack Ma Foundation stated that “In total, 1.1 million testing kits, 6 million masks, and 60,000 medical use protective suits and face shields will be delivered to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia has agreed to take the lead in managing the logistics and distribution of these supplies to the other African countries. I want to express a big ‘Thank You’ to the Ethiopian government and Prime Minister Abiy.”
It is also worth noting that the Jack Ma Foundation has extended similar generosity to countries in other continents, aiming to better equip them in the fight against COVID-19.