AMREF donates 8.22 million/- to contain covid-19 pandemic

AMREF Health Africa through its ‘Afya Kamili Project’ has donated various items worth 8.22 million/- to boost efforts to protect people against the spreading Covid-19 disease.

The donation was made through the organisation’s comprehensive HIV prevention, care, treatment and support programme being implemented in Tanga and Zanzibar.

Speaking on behalf of AMREF Health Africa country director, Afya Kamili project director, Dr Edwin Kilimba said that the organization would donate similar materials to Zanzibar.

Dr Kilimba said the donated items include hand sanitizers, 80 plastic buckets with tap, 32 boxes of gloves, 40 white disposable medical coats, 120 liquid hand washing soap and water storage facilities.

The organization, he said, will also support in distribution of posters and fliers from the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elders and Children.

Speaking after receiving the items, Tanga regional commissioner, Martine Shigela commended AMREF for boosting regional efforts to contain Covid-19 but also called on residents to strictly adhere to sgovernment guidelines on the disease to safeguard their health.

He said that Tanga region has set several strategies aimed containing the pandemic including directing health care workers to be careful when attending to suspected Covid-19 patients. He said they have also set special centres that will be used to treat patients who will be confirmed to be infected with the disease.

He said the regional government has also set aside hotels at the border between Tanzania and Kenya where people entering into the country will be quarantined for 14 days.

According to Shigela, the donated items will be distributed to various places including markets and government institutions.

“We are going to put hand washing facilities and sanitizers at our markets because a good number of people visit the area everyday”, he said.

Tanga Regional Medical Officer, Dr Jonathan Budeme thanked AMREF for the assistance and promised to use the various donated items accordingly. He said with the support, the region’s efforts in controlling the spreading of the virus have been enhanced.

Meanwhile, the union of Zanzibar traders has donated different items worth 100m/- to the Isle government in support of the fight against the pandemic.

The items include hand washing facilities, sanitizers and food stuffs.

Mohamed Aboud Mohamed, Minister of State, Second Vice President’s Office assured the traders that donated stuffs will be used accordingly. He said stringent measures will be ataken against anyone proved to have misused the items which are meant to boost protection efforts against Covid-19.

“The government won’t tolerate any civil servant who will misuse the donated items.

Mohamed called upon Isle residents to adhere to Covid-19 protection guidelines issued by the government which includes avoiding unnecessary gatherings and frequent washing of hands using running tap water and soap or sanitizer.

Article first published on https://www.ippmedia.com/en/news/amref-donates-822-million-contain-covid-19-pandemic