Nepal is going through a lockdown due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While positive cases keep popping up here and there as days pass by, testing is not being prioritized to an extent as it must be. We believe both the Government as well as the public should put it in a topmost priority followed by isolating themselves in order to flatten the curve.
On the other hand, to keep the virus under check, Jack Ma Foundation along with the Alibaba Foundation from China have donated their first batch of essential medical supplies to Nepal, delivered today at the Tribhuvan International Airport. The Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal received the supply receipt and will be distributing the goods throughout the nation.
The foundation donated essential medical supplies that include 7.4 million masks, 485,000 test kits, 100,000 sets of protective clothing, and other medications equipment to a total of 23 Asian countries — today’s delivery being a part of it.
The Managing Director for Daraz in Nepal, Mr. Lino Ahlering participated in the ceremony acting on behalf of the two Foundations thereby donating to the Ministry of Health and Population. Also, Ms. Hou Yanqi, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal and Mr. Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, the Ministry for Health and Population witnessed the presentation supporting the private philanthropic initiative.
Jack Ma Foundation on the donation stated, “We hope this donation will help Nepal contain the spread of Covid-19. We are making our best effort to support the global community. It is not easy to source and transport medical supplies to where it is needed the most, but we are working hard to get it done.”
As already mentioned, these grants are among a number of aid initiatives from the Alibaba Foundation and the Jack Ma Foundation hence supporting the COVID-19 affected regions across the globe, sourcing and delivering medical supplies and equipment to countries across Asia, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Africa. This being the first batch, more initiatives and donations could certainly be announced in the coming days.
Besides, both the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation supported the publication of a handbook that comprises key lessons and experience from doctors, healthcare workers, and the hospital administrators at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (FAHZU), who were on the frontline of COVID-19 treatment in China thus crucial to slowing its spread. The handbook is available for global medical health professionals at this link.
You can follow @JackMa and @foundation_ma on Twitter to keep track of these Foundations’ activities concerning the COVID-19 pandemic around the globe and more.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illnesses.
View more info on WHO
