Chinese billionaire and co-founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma has promised to donate masks, test kits and protective suits to all countries in Africa to help the continent in its fight against the novel coronavirus.In a statement released on Monday, it was revealed that Ma’s foundation, 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.
They will also work with local medical institutions in Africa to provide online training material for coronavirus clinical treatments.
A statement signed by Jack Ma read in part: “The world cannot afford the unthinkable consequences of a COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.”
He adds in the statement: “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 items will be delivered to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will oversee the distribution of the supplies to other African countries, Ma said.
The statement by the Jack Ma Foundation continues: “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, 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.”
The Jack Ma Foundation has also made similar donations to countries in other continents in a bid to better prepare them for the fight against COVID-19.