The family of Equity Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. James Mwangi has donated Ksh.300 million to an initiative geared towards providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to medical staff dealing with Covid-19 in public hospitals.
Equity Bank also donated Ksh.300 million while the Mastercard Foundation contributed Ksh.500 million to the initiative.
“It started when my attention was drawn to a group of students and doctors who were raising funds for PPE’s for young post graduate students especially in Kenyatta National and Referral Hospital (KNH),” said Dr. Mwangi.
“When I shared the need with my family, a robust discussion revealed the urgency to holistically address the issue as it was not prudent to provide the PPEs to students without also focusing on the plight of the doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and medical staff.”
The Equity Bank boss added that a steering committee composed of medical professionals had since been formed to organize the task of coordinating and actualizing the initiative, as follows:
1. Prof. Isaac Macharia – ENT, Specialist (Chairman)
2. Dr. Louis Litswa – Specialist Anesthetist and Critical Care Specialist (Member)
4. Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda – Secretary General, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (Member)
5. Dr. David Kariuki – Senior Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health (Member)
6. Mr. Alfred Obengo – Secretary General, National Nurses Association of Kenya (Member)
7. Dr. Joanne Korir – Quality Assurance, Equity Afia (Secretary)
The committee will coordinate the implementation of the initiative to ensure availability of PPEs across the country and also help to scale up a mental wellness support system for medical staff.
Dr. Mwangi expressed appreciation to the Mastercard Foundation for their partnership saying their generous contribution has made it possible to scale up the investment to the national level.
He also appealed to Kenyans to observe recommendations from the Ministry of Health on social distancing, washing hands and sanitizing regularly, limitation of movement, self-quarantining when in doubt, and wearing face masks when in public.
“We can overcome this global pandemic as a nation only in partnership with our Government, and by committing to our social contract where the Government and the Ministry of Health design the best medical policies and protocols, and we as citizens adhere to them faithfully. As a people, let us hold each other to account,” he stated.
Equity Bank (Kenya) Ltd. Chairman Professor Isaac Macharia said, “The Board of Equity recognizes the vital role of health care workers on the frontline and is proud to partner with universities and public hospitals in ensuring the safety of our health care workers.”
President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation Reeta Roy, on his part, added, “Health care workers are at the frontlines of caring for all of us, safeguarding community health. We must keep them safe. We are grateful that this partnership meets the immediate needs precipitated by COVID-19.”
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