Coronavirus: Alibaba founder Jack Ma donates 20,000 test kits to each African country

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma has announced the donation of 20,000 testing kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields to the 54 African countries as part of efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the continent.

The founder of the e-commerce giant Alibaba in a post on Twitter said Africa can be one step ahead of the coronavirus, urging members of the global community to "take action now".

Mr Ma also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali who has agreed to take the lead in managing the logistics and distribution of these supplies to the other African countries.

"Africa can be one step ahead of the coronavirus. To each of the 54 African countries, we will donate 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields," Mr Ma said in his third tweet since joining the social media platform.

"We can take precautions now and get prepared ahead of time, as Africa can benefit from the experience and lessons from other countries that were earlier hit hard by the virus," a statement issued by the Jack Ma Foundation said.

"To combat the potential surging demand for medical supplies and equipment in Africa, Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation will donate to each one of the 54 African nations 20,000 testing kits, 100,000 masks, and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields.

"In addition, we will immediately start working with medical institutions in Africa to provide online training material for COVID-19 clinical treatment".

The Foundation will also start working with medical institutions in Africa to provide online training material for COVID-19 clinical treatment.

Breakdown

In total, 1.1 million testing kits, 6 million masks, and 60,000 medical use protective suits and face shields are expected to be delivered to Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.

"Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia has agreed to take the lead in managing the logistics and distribution of these supplies to the other African countries. I want to express a big "Thank You" to the Ethiopian government and Prime Minister Abiy," the statement added.

"This crisis is proving to be more difficult and longer-lasting than any of us had expected. We must make every effort to get prepared. The past two months show us that if we take it very seriously and are proactive, we are more than capable of containing the virus.

"Now it is as if we were all living in the same forest on fire. As members of the global community, it would be irresponsible of us to sit on the fence, panic, ignore facts or fail to act. We need to take action now!".

This follows a similar donation of 500,000 testing kits and 1 million masks to the United States by the Jack Ma Foundation.

Africa can be one step ahead of the coronavirus. To each of the 54 African countries, we will donate 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields. Thank you @PMEthiopia @AbiyAhmedAli for your support. pic.twitter.com/6oKptVCjNx

— Jack Ma (@JackMa) March 16, 2020