Bamburi Cement Limited has Monday donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) kits to Machakos, Kajiado, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties in a bid to boost their fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The PPE kits contain N95 masks, surgical gloves, coveralls, googles, face shields, and shoe covers; some of the most essential items required by healthcare workers treating Covid-19 patients.
Speaking during the flag-off of the PPE kits to the five counties at the Bamburi Cement Nairobi Plant in Athi River, Machakos, Bamburi Group Managing Director Seddiq Hassani said the donation will benefit a total of 11 health facilities and Rapid Response teams across the five counties including Coast General Hospital and county referral hospitals in Machakos, Kajiado, Kwale and Kilifi.
“Other Sub-County dispensaries that will benefit from the donations include Mlalewa (Mombasa), Shanzu, Athi River, Kitengela and Vipingo” said Mr. Hassani.
The MD noted that the company remains committed to fulfilling their promise of supporting the medical fraternity with PPEs to safeguard health workers serving on the frontline in mitigating the Covid- 19 pandemic.
“During the cheque handover to the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund Board earlier this year, we committed to continued support to Covid-19 management efforts and therefore with the escalating numbers of Covid-19 cases, today we fulfil our promise with this donation to our frontline healthcare workers who continue to serve with fortitude by ensuring that they remain safe while serving Kenyans. We value their priceless role in battling Coronavirus,” said Mr. Hassani.
He added that the donation was one of Bamburi Cement’s many initiatives aimed at helping the country combat this global pandemic, further reiterating the company’s central role in supporting individuals and the economy during this crisis and facilitating in any possible way, a rapid and sustained recovery.
“As a company we care for the community and we are determined to be part of the solution to this pandemic and make a difference for the benefit of us all,” he said.
The Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) for Health, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi who was present during the ceremony thanked Bamburi for their generous donation and for their commitment to supporting frontline health workers during this time.
“I’m glad that today we are receiving further PPEs donation, special present from the Bamburi Cement to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. I am glad to note that the donations are worth Sh. 5.1 million, which will assist us towards mitigation efforts on Covid-19 pandemic. This support will improve the prevention, detection and management of Covid-19 as well as strengthening the resilience of affected communities.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Health, let me register our appreciation to Bamburi Cement for their continued partnership with the Government, there is still more are we will look forward to your partnership even as we embark on the national Universal Health Coverage” added Dr. Mwangangi.
The CAS noted that the recommendation by the Government to apply the home-based care approach in the management of Covid-19 cases has gone a long way in relieving the increasing burden on the health system and strengthening the capacity of the community health structures to manage Covid-19 transmission and management at the community level.
She however noted that there remains a need to ensure that the Health Care Workers are appropriately equipped to deal with those needy cases.
“The needs for the workers include adequate supplies of PPEs, medicines, quality medical and laboratory equipment such as the Thermolycer we are receiving today, capacity building and sound health policies, strategies and guidelines” said Dr. Mwangangi
So far, the country has supported the needs of the workers by providing adequate policies and guidelines, adequate training on Covid-19 and PPEs including masks, gowns, shoe covers, goggles, face shields gloves, out of these provisions, Substantive amount has been through the support of our development partners and friends like Bamburi cement today, to whom we are most grateful” added Dr. Mwangangi
The CAS noted that the National and the County Government are working together to implement public health measures to curb transmission including, coordination and overall leadership in the control of the epidemic and Developing and disseminating guidelines for treatment and management of Covid-19 cases.
She further added that the national government is also building capacities of the Ministry of Health staff at the counties to better manage the epidemic, disease surveillance and supporting counties to test Covid-19 cases
“As a government we are confident that we are going to change the course of this pandemic if we continue to test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize our people in the response. I am happy to say that every arm of the government is working together to scale up critical measures” said Dr. Mwangangi.
“I want to thank the County governments for strongly working together with the Ministry of Health in responding to this pandemic. We have witnessed solid leadership in community engagement to facilitate increased awareness and adoption of public health measures at the community level, measures aimed at slowing down Covid-19 transmission. Counties have been working tirelessly to increase their hospital isolation capacities,” she said.
Machakos and Kajiado County CEC’s for health, who were present to receive the donations, expressed their appreciation to Bamburi Cement for the support noting that the scarcity of PPE is a problem faced by healthcare workers as the frontliners in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in many hospitals.
We sincerely appreciate the generous contribution by Bamburi cement to support our efforts to combat Covid-19 pandemic. This donation is timely especially at this time that we are experiencing increased number of Covid-19 cases in our country to the extent that our resources are stretched. It will go a long way in enhancing the safety of our health workers,” said Machakos Healthy CEC Dr. Ancent Kituku Nzioka.
“Thank you, Bamburi Cement for equipping our county frontline healthcare workers with the requisite protective gear. This will for sure give them confidence to freely attend to Covid-19 patients without fear or stigma. Your continued support is laudable and a true testimony to the dedication to serve humanity through thick and thin,” said Kajiado County Health CEC Esther Somoire.
The PPEs donation is part of the Sh 15.6m that Bamburi Cement has committed to support the fight against the spread of Covid 19. The sum includes Sh 5 million that Bamburi donated directly to the Government’s Covid-19 Emergency Fund in July this year, with another Sh 5.4 million going towards supporting communities in Machakos, Kajiado, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties with water tanks, face masks, sanitizers and other related initiatives.
Bamburi Cement Limited, a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim, and is the leading cement manufacturing and marketing Company in the Eastern Africa region, having been operational for 63 years. It has three subsidiaries Hima Cement Ltd (Uganda), Bamburi Special Products Ltd and Lafarge Ecosystems Ltd.
By Rachael Kilonzo
