Mastercard Foundation Commits USD $5 Million to Protect Kenyan Health Care Workers Amid COVID-19

Mastercard Foundation Commits USD $5 Million to Protect Kenyan Health Care Workers Amid COVID-19

"Health care workers are at the frontlines of caring for all of us, safeguarding community health. We must keep them safe," said Reeta Roy, President and CEO of Mastercard Foundation. Mastercard Foundation will contribute USD $5 million to the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Kenya’s Frontline Medical Staff as part of the Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program. Mastercard Foundation will contribute USD $5 million to the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Kenya’s Frontline Medical Staff as part of the Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program.

The commitment will be directed through the Equity Group Foundation, which has also received support from Equity Bank (Kenya) Ltd., along with a contribution from the family of the Foundation’s Founding Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of Equity Group Holdings Plc, Dr. James Mwangi. Equity Bank and Dr. Mwangi’s family contributed USD $3 million each, bringing the total commitment for the initiative to USD $11 million (Ksh 1.1 billion). Equity Group Foundation will coordinate the purchase of PPE equipment locally through collaboration with Kenya’s Ministry of Health.

"Health care workers are at the frontlines of caring for all of us, safeguarding community health. We must keep them safe. We are grateful that this partnership meets the immediate needs precipitated by COVID-19, which the Foundation is prioritizing through our Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program," said Reeta Roy, President and CEO of Mastercard Foundation.

While the bulk of the funding will be dedicated to the purchase of personal protective gear, a portion of the commitment will be directed to developing and scaling a mental wellness support system for medical staff, which will be spearheaded by the Kenya Medical Association.

"As we execute this initiative, my trust and gratitude go to our medical staff who risk everything to serve an oath of their profession," said Dr. James Mwangi. "The Board of Equity recognizes the vital role of health care workers on the frontline and is proud to partner with universities and public hospitals in ensuring the safety of our health care workers," added Equity Bank (Kenya) Ltd. Chairman Professor Isaac Macharia.

Equity Group Foundation anticipates that the commitment from the Mastercard Foundation will enable the provision of personal protective equipment nationally to medical personnel across the country.

About Mastercard Foundation Mastercard Foundation works with partners to ensure that millions of young people, especially young women, access quality education, financial services, and dignified […]

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