The African Pandemic Response Alliance (APRA), an organisation made up of businesses and financial experts with deep knowledge of Africa, has teamed up with Save the Children UK to help curb the spread of Covid-19 in Africa and also address the impact of the pandemic on children.
The two organisations recently launched the Africa Pandemic Response Campaign to fund activities that will help reduce the impact on children and their families, such as providing personal protective equipment to health workers, running remote training and handwashing campaigns, and implementing testing and tracking systems.
It was stated that the funds raised from the campaign will also be spent on providing medical and protective equipment for healthcare workers in countries at risk, and a range of activities focused on raising awareness and prevention.
The campaign will initially focus on higher-risk countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda. Other countries will be included on a case-by-case basis.
The Head of Africa Philanthropy at Save the Children, Keith Kibirango, said, ‘We are delighted to be announcing this partnership with APRA. The combination of our networks, knowledge, and our presence in affected communities across Africa will enable us to provide immediate and meaningful support to vulnerable children and their families affected by Covid-19. In countries already grappling with food crises and health challenges, Save the Children is working to help to slow the spread of [Covid-19], distribute protective equipment and medical supplies, ensure children’s nutrition and vaccinations are not falling behind, and grow our network of community health workers’.
On his part, the founder of APRA and Partner at Altica Partners, Dawda Jawara III, said, ‘The scale of the Covid-19 pandemic has shifted traditional boundaries between the private, public and third sectors, and demands that everyone step out of their comfort zone. It is a privilege to be joining forces with our partners and Save the Children to help prevent the spread of [Covid-19] in Africa. As professionals and entrepreneurs with deep ties to the continent, we [could not] sit back and do nothing.
As for the Director of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Dr John Nkengasong, he said, ‘Containment and preventive measures are critical to ensuring that Covid-19 caseloads in Africa remain low and already fragile health systems [are not] overwhelmed. Through coordinating businesses, governments, and the non-profit sector, the Africa Pandemic Response Campaign compliments and strengthens ongoing efforts to slow the spread of the virus across the continent. By all working together, we can help ensure life-saving resources reach those who need them most’.
Source: The Patriotic Vanguard
Photo source: Yuri Samoilov
