Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Donates 1.1 Million COVID-19 Testing Kits to all 54 African Countries

Africa can be one step ahead of the virus thanks to the Jack Ma Foundation.

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, they have pledged to start working with medical institutions in Africa to provide online training material for COVID-19 clinical treatment.

Founder of the Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation, Jack Ma says, 

"We cannot ignore the potential risk to Africa and assume this continent of 1.3 billion people will blissfully escape the crisis. The world cannot afford the unthinkable consequences of a COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.

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."

In total 1.1 million testing kits, 6 million masks, and 60,000 medical use protective suits and face shields will be delivered to the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has agreed to take the lead in managing the logistics and distribution of these supplies to the other African countries.

"This crisis is proving to be more difficult and longer lasting than any of us had expected. We must make every effort to get prepared. The past two months show us that if we take it very seriously and are proactive, we are more than capable of containing the virus.

Now it is as if we are 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!"

concludes Ma.

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