Leading philanthropists answer the call to aid Africa COVID-19 crisis

Kids Operating Room and a group of generous funders are helping to transport 25 million items of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to help support nine African nations as they face the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PPE, donated by the Scottish Government and worth an estimated £11.2m, will be transported in dozens of shipping containers to Africa after The Wood Foundation, Pula Limited, Postcode Innovation Trust and Delta Philanthropies came together to provide the £1 million-plus required to cover the shipping costs.

“I would like to thank our donors for stepping up to help support the distribution of so many millions of items of PPE that will prove vital for countries in Africa battling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

Garreth Wood, Co-Founder of global health charity KidsOR

Sir Ian Wood, Chair of The Wood Foundation, said: “The Wood Foundation has a long history of collaborating with partner organisations and supporting projects in East Africa. We are pleased to be able to support the shipment of this PPE, which will be vital in protecting healthcare staff during the Covid pandemic.”

Stephen Lansdown CBE, of Pula Limited, Guernsey, said: “As the world continues to face this COVID-19 pandemic, we are delighted to play a role in providing PPE equipment to East Africa. We know that this equipment will be vital in protecting healthcare workers to safely treat patients.”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery is supporting good causes around the world to address COVID-19 issues. Distributed by Postcode Innovation Trust, this money will support KidsOR to get PPE equipment on the ground, to protect healthcare workers in East Africa.”

The countries being supported are: Zambia; Malawi; Rwanda; Uganda; Sierra Leone; Senegal; Botswana; Mozambique; and Zimbabwe. The items being sent are FFP3 masks, goggles, visors and IIR (medical) face masks.

The Scottish Government has contributed £250,000 towards transportation of the PPE. It is hoped that a second shipment of millions more PPE will be sent later in the year.

International Development Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “This significant contribution builds on our recent supply of oxygen concentrators and ventilators to our African partner countries, and we hope it will go some way to easing the current stress on health services.

“This donation underlines that the Scottish Government remains fully committed to playing our part in tackling shared global challenges. I would like to thank KidsOR for supporting us to make it possible to distribute this PPE equipment along with the recent supply of oxygen concentrators and ventilators.”

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