Chinese billionaire businessman and co-founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma, has come out to support the World in combating the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, reported CNN. He has pledged to donate essential equipment including masks, test kits and protective suits to the US, Europe Africa and the rest of the world.
“We cannot ignore the potential to Africa and assume this continent of 1.3 billion people will blissfully escape the crisis,” Jack said through his foundation in a statement, “The World cannot afford the unthinkable consequences of a COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.”
He said his Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation will donate 20,000 testing kits, 100,000 face masks and 1000 medical use protective suits and face shields to each of the 54 African nations to combat the potential surging demand for medical supplies and equipment in Africa.
Ma’s foundation will also work with local medical institutions on the continent to provide online training material for coronavirus clinical treatments.
“The pandemic we face today can no longer be resolved by any individual country,” Ma said. “We can’t beat this virus unless we eliminate boundaries to resources and share our know-how and hard-earned lessons.”
Africa has so far confirmed over 300 cases, Egypt being the hardest hit with 110 cases. Four African nations including Benin, Liberia, Somalia, and Tanzania confirmed their first coronavirus cases on Monday.
Ma said the essential commodities will be delivered to Ethiopia, from where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will get it supplied to other African countries.
President Abiy appreciated Jack for partnering with Ethiopia to distribute corona testing kits to African countries, and guideline books developed recently on how to treat patients with the virus.
On Monday, the World Bank also announced that it had committed $60 million to Kenya to help the East African nation battle the outbreak.
