Amref Health Africa to Support COVID-19 Response in East Africa through American Tower Foundation Grant

Beneficiary countries are Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda

Nairobi, Kenya, August 25, 2020: Amref Health Africa has received a grant from American Tower Corporation (ATC) to support COVID-19 response in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

The grant amounts to US$250,000, with US$50,000 supporting interventions in Ethiopia, and US$100,000 in Kenya and Uganda each.

‘‘This pandemic has presented many challenges in the communities where we work, and your support enables us to take quick action to address the most urgent and important needs,’’ noted Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO, Amref Health Africa during the cheque handover ceremony at Amref headquarters.

Through ATC funding support, Amref plans to conduct a survey for COVID-19 antibodies in a selected population in Kenya as soon as an approved test is available in the country. While testing for SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – continues to increase in Kenya, the numbers of asymptomatic infections and mild disease remain unknown. Studies of virus exposure would assist the authorities and the general public to better understand the extent of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

As the COVID-19 outbreak in Uganda continues to evolve rapidly, with major incidents occurring recently in border districts, Amref will expand its joint response interventions with the Ministry of Health especially in Arua District by training, equipping and deploying additional frontline Community Health Workers (CHWs), providing them with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and reaching tens of thousands of the most at-risk people with messages on COVID-19 infection prevention and control.

In Ethiopia, Amref will expand its COVID-19 CHW training to include modules on provision of basic Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) services that have been limited due to COVID-19. The project will provide CHWs with the necessary knowledge and skills to offer basic care and health education on topics like antenatal care for pregnant women, delivery and essential newborn care, and child immunization services, and to make referrals to health facilities that can provide more advanced care as needed. Amref will also work closely with the Ministry of Health to build the training curriculum for the LEAP platform, test the training materials, and roll-out the program to CHWs.

[ENDS]

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Amref Health Africa

Amref Health Africa, headquartered in Kenya, is the largest Africa based International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) currently running programs in over 35 countries in Africa with lessons learnt over 60 years of engagement with governments, communities and partners to increase sustainable health access in Africa. Amref Health Africa also incorporates programme development, fundraising, partnership, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and has offices in Europe and North America as well as subsidiaries: Amref Flying Doctors, Amref Enterprises and the Amref International University.

About American Tower Foundation and American Tower Corporation

The American Tower Foundation was incorporated in 2017 to drive the philanthropic initiatives of American Tower Corporation. Founded in 1995, American Tower Corporation (NYSE:AMT) is one of the largest global real estate investment trusts and, is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate. The company has a portfolio of approximately 181,000 communications sites across 20 countries and five continents.

CONTACTS

Elizabeth (Lizz) Ntonjira Head of Global Corporate Communications, Amref Health Africa Email: Elizabeth.Ntonjira@amref.org

Angelica Jacinto

Manager, Development and Communications

Amref Health Africa in US Email: jacinto@amrefusa.org

Christine Brennan

VP, Administration and Secretary, American Tower Foundation Email: christine.brennan@americantower.com / Foundation@amtfoundation.com