The Chinese business magnate, investor and politician, Jack Ma has announced that he is donating test kits, face masks and other protective suits to Africa.
The co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group, a multinational technology conglomerate has already done similar donation to the United States as the world battles the deadly coronavirus.
He donated “500,000 testing kits and 1 million masks” to help Americans in what he calls “these difficult times”.
In a statement he said “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.”
Ma also said that he believes “Africa can be one step ahead of the coronavirus.”
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
Over 26 African countries have so far recorded the coronavirus with six deaths reported out of over 270 cases.
In dealing with the increasing number of cases, many African countries have imposed travel bans to contain the spread of the virus.
Apart from travel bans, some of these countries have also banned religious activities, shuts schools and asked employers to allow employees to work from home.
There are indications more African countries will soon also announce travel bans as the continent ensures that the spread of the virus is kept at a low rate.
Algeria 48
South Africa 51
Senegal 24
Cameroon 3
Nigeria 2
Burkina Faso 7
Togo 1
DRC 3
Cote d’Ivoire 5
Ghana 2
Gabon 1
Kenya 3
Ethiopia 4
Guinea 1
Rwanda 5
Namibia 2
E Guinea 1
Seychelles 2
CAR 1
Congo 1
Mauritania 1
Eswatini 1
Liberia 1
Egypt 110
Morocco 28
Tunisia 18
Sudan 1 pic.twitter.com/U6vpjREr0q— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) March 16, 2020
Source: Africafeeds.com
