COVID19: Jack Ma Announces Donation of Test Kits and Masks to Countries in Africa

Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba, Chinese e-commerce company, has announced a donation of 1.1 million testing kits and six million masks to fight coronavirus in Africa.

So far, twenty-seven African countries have recorded cases of COVID-19, the latest being Benin, Liberia, Somalia and Tanzania.

In a statement made on Twitter, Ma said the world cannot afford the consequences of a COVlD-19 pandemic in Africa.

Africa can be one step ahead of the coronavirus. To each of the 54 African countries, we will donate 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields. Thank you @PMEthiopia @AbiyAhmedAli for your support. pic.twitter.com/6oKptVCjNx

— Jack Ma (@JackMa) March 16, 2020

“We can take precautions now and get prepared ahead of time as Africa can benefit from the experience and lessons from other countries that were earlier hit hard by the virus,” he said.

“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.

“In addition, we will immediately start working with medical institutions in Africa to provide online training material for COVID-19 clinical treatment.

“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.”

He said Abiy Ahmed Ali, prime minister of Ethiopia, has agreed to take the lead in managing the logistics and distribution of the supplies to the other African countries.

The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported that Premier Abiy met Ma at the Office of the Prime Minister in Addis Ababa as the coronavirus pandemic ravages the continent. Many African countries are struggling with fragile health care systems.

Ahmed said he had partnered with the Chinese billionaire to distribute the test kits and masks to each African country, as well as new guideline books on how to treat patients with the virus.

The renowned entrepreneur said the crisis is proving to be more difficult and longer lasting than was expected, and efforts must be made at preparing against it.

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He said the past two months had shown that proactive measures would help in containing the virus.

“Now it is as if we were all living in the same forest on fire. As members of the global community, it would be irresponsible of us to sit on the fence, panic, ignore facts or fail to act. We need to take action now!” he said.

This donation to Africa is coming days after Jack Ma made a donation of coronavirus testing kits and masks to the United States and hard-hit countries such as Italy and Iran.

The first shipment of masks and coronavirus test kits to the US is taking off from Shanghai. All the best to our friends in America. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/LTn26gvlOl

— Jack Ma (@JackMa) March 16, 2020