. . . to support various initiatives to combat the spread and the impact of the COVID-19 virus in an effort to “flatten the curve”
The Sanlam Group has thrown its weight behind the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus in Africa and other territories where it has a business presence outside of South Africa by donating R45 million (about USD2,3 million) to support various initiatives to fight the pandemic.
In response to the spread of COVID-19 in our country, Sanlam Namibia and its subsidiaries Welwitschia Insurance Brokers and Sanlam Investments today pledges N$3.5 million to support various initiatives to combat the spread and the impact of the COVID-19 virus in an effort to “flatten the curve”. The contribution comes in response to the call by His Excellency President Hage G. Geingob, for the private sector to come on board and support government’s efforts to fight the global pandemic. We believe this effort will make a contribution not only towards the fight against the coronavirus, but also towards securing a sustainable future for our country.
Sanlam’s contribution will be used to assist in the following areas:
1. Sanitation infrastructure: a total amount of N$500,000 has been allocated to provide toilets and other sanitary assistance to the affected communities in selected different informal settlements. Some funds will also be utilised to provide temporary water infrastructure
2. Personal Protection wear and equipment: a total amount of N$500,000 has been allocated towards the procurement of personal protective wear and equipment for health and essential workers in the health sector.
3. National COVID-19 Fund: A total amount of N$500,000 will be contributed to the National COVID-19 fund. Part of this allocation is set aside to assist SMEs and selected farmers to ease their financial burden during the lockdown to ensure that they don’t close down during this very challenging time.
4. E – Learning and education: a total amount of N$1,000,000 will go towards assisting the education sector by providing the much needed support for distance education and e-learning via TV and radio education outreach programmes.
5. Testing and Screening equipment for health sector: a total amount of N$800,000 is set aside for the procurement of testing and screening equipment for the health sector.
6. Nurses and Doctors Workstation: a total amount of N$200,000 is set aside for the construction of the nurses and doctors’ workstation where screening and testing of Covid-19 suspected and probable cases will be undertaken in Walvis Bay.
Before this pledge and as an immediate response to the pandemic, Sanlam had already contributed about over N$222,410 towards the procurement of testing kits and protective wear to essential services workers of the City of Windhoek in their effort in fighting COVID-19 in the city. Additionally Sanlam has also already spent N$90,000 towards the provision of clean water to the vulnerable communities in Windhoek’s informal settlement. Furthermore, Sanlam also procured 60 PPE Packs containing face masks, eye protection googles, knee length overshoes, hooded balaclava, protection gown, folio dress gowns and scrub suits worth N$198,000 for the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Finally and on top of the pledged amount, Sanlam will also donate a Mobi-Van to the Ministry of Health and Social Services to be used for transport for the testing, screening and general fight against COVID-19. The Mobi-Van is valued at N$500,000.
In total over N$4 million has been contributed to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic by Sanlam Namibia and its subsidiaries.
Announcing the pledge, Sanlam Group CEO Tertius Stears said “Sanlam stands together with the entire Namibian nation and vows to support government and other relevant stakeholder’s initiatives in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic”. He added that as a responsible corporate citizen, “we recognise that these are unusual times calling for conceited efforts from players from various sectors to hold hands and fight this pandemic together. As a nation, we are in uncharted waters in terms of the scale and danger the COVID-19 pandemic presents to our country”. “It is now time for each and every one of us to demonstrate leadership and do our part to assist government in its effort to win this fight. We understand that this is not a fight for government alone and if we are to come out victorious we all need to make every effort to join hands and face this pandemic head on” he said.
Stears thanked Government for their leadership and proactiveness. He also showered praise and gratitude to the health workers, police, soldiers and all essential service providers for their tireless work during this very challenging time. He said that “Namibians have a history of uniting and working together when confronted with major and enormous challenges. We are confident that we will in the medium to long term overcome the life-threatening and economic challenges caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and continue to build a bright and inclusive future for the people of this country and the African continent”.
