By Our Reporter
Sanlam Uganda, a provider of insurance and financial services in Uganda, has donated Ushs. 285 million (US$75,000) to the COVID-19 National Response Fund to help combat the global pandemic and its effects on the country.
The financial contribution, which was donated as part of their Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, will go towards the purchase of protective wear for frontline health workers, including face masks, face shields and PVC aprons.
Speaking during the handover, Mr. Gary Corbit, CEO of Sanlam General Insurance Uganda said Sanlam as a Group is proud of and appreciates the efforts of the Ministry of Health and the Government of Uganda to combat the spread and contraction of coronavirus (COVID-19).
“Sanlam made CSI worldwide a business mandate with a conscious decision to be a virtuous corporate citizen in the countries in which we operate,” Corbit said. “We are therefore pleased to stand with Uganda in this time of great need by extending Ushs. 285 million (US$75,000) to the National Response Fund to help combat COVID-19 and its impact on the economy and our people.”
Dr. Diana Atwiine, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Uganda extended the government’s appreciation of the solidarity and support extended to facilitate the safe working conditions of health workers at the frontline.
She observed that health workers are the heroes in this fight and that many of them were putting their own lives and those of their families at risk for the sake of this country.
“The protective gear to be purchased would be a great opportunity for us to minimise the risk of health workers getting infected, and to provide the much needed safety in these uncertain times,” she noted, adding that each time a symptomatic person goes to a health center, whether or not it’s COVID-19, the health workers attending to them do so not because they are fearless, but because they are making a sacrifice for the country – something they will be able to continue to do thanks to this donation.
Mr. Nicholas Lutakome, Acting CEO of Sanlam Life Insurance Uganda thanked His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of Uganda and the COVID-19 National Task Force for the tremendous work they have done in fighting and preventing the spread of the pandemic among Ugandans.
“Life is the most precious gift to mankind and preserving it is everyone’s duty, given the opportunity,” Lutakome said adding that the virus is a threat to this gift and as a business, Sanlam Uganda commits to joining hands with every Ugandan and the Government of Uganda to ensure the country and its citizens live beyond this pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact countries globally, in various proportions, with over 2 million people infected and about 140,000 dead. However, Uganda in particular has so far registered 55 positive cases, with 4 recoveries and no deaths.
