Jumia donates masks to Kenya’s health workers to support efforts to fight Covid-19

Online retailer Jumia has donated 100,000 masks to the Ministry of Health to support community health workers, who are on the front line responding to suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. The donations were received by AMREF Health Africa and Red Cross, which serve under the National Response Committee.

The e-retail platform has also offered the support of its integrated logistics network to support the distribution of essential food and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE equipment, as part of the SafeHands Coalition.

(TOP: Dr. Githinji Gitahi, the Group CEO of Amref Health Africa – left – while receiving the masks from Sam Chappatte, the Jumia Kenya CEO donated to the Ministry of Health to support community health workers, who are on the front line responding to suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. The donations were received by AMREF Health Africa and Red Cross, which serve under the National Response Committee).  

“Front line workers all across the country are protecting us and leading the fight against COVID-19. These heroes deserve our full support – and it is with this aim that we are making a small contribution to the fight. E-commerce platforms like Jumia, with cashless payments and contactless delivery capabilities, are uniquely positioned to be part of Kenya’s response strategy to this pandemic. And stand ready to serve”, said Sam Chappatee, the Jumia Kenya CEO.

According to the National Response Committee, the masks will further the efforts against the spread of the virus in the country.

“The face masks will be distributed to the health workers, who are on the front line responding to suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19,” said Dr. Githinji Gitahi, the Group CEO of Amref Health Africa.

Jumia’s actions to support the government in its fight against COVID-19 include:

• Facilitation of social distancing by enabling consumers to buy online. Offering contactless and cashless delivery options eliminates physical contact and potentially reduce person to person infection.
• Providing access to affordable basic foods and sanitary essentials on their platform. By partnering with thousands of vendors, Jumia is able to control prices and hoarding behaviour.
• Offering Jumia’s logistics networks to help distribute test kits, health pamphlets and key products to where they are needed (countrywide).
• Leveraging Jumia’s team in China to source critical PPE equipment quickly and at affordable prices. So far the firm has sourced millions of masks and PPE for governments and private healthcare providers in Kenya and across Africa