A key objective is procuring PPE – over 21 million masks, 400,000 test-kits and 200 ventilators on its way to South Africa.
The Solidarity Fund, a pro bono organization set up by the South African government to channel donations from corporates and citizens to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, has said it has received a total of R2.6 billion ($136 million) in pledges from various sectors of civil society within a month of inception.
The fund, set up with R150 million ($7.8 million) seed capital donated by the state, is seen as a united response to the coronavirus crisis and “a rapid response vehicle” focusing on highly-targeted and intensive interventions.
Gloria Serobe, appointed by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa as Chairperson of the fund, referred to what collaboration can achieve in a short period of time in a live press briefing today.
Paul Bondi, the Lead: Fundraising, said “a 1,000 businesses have donated to the fund, but also 75,000 individuals who have contributed”.
Of the total amount, R1.1 billion ($57.5 million) has been set aside for the healthcare sector for procuring vital PPE for frontline healthcare workers including N95 masks, gloves and gowns, added Dr Jonathan Broomberg, the fund’s Healthcare Intervention Lead.
“The Solidarity Fund stepped in and worked quickly to bring in much-needed supply as quickly as possible. An entire procurement engine has been built… About 21 million masks have been purchased, along with hundreds of thousands of hand-sanitizers, gloves etc. It is a continuous procurement cycle and supply is rigorously checked for quality. The fund has provided for another 400,000 test-kits and procurement of over 200 ventilators that will arrive in coming weeks. There is also focus on the local manufacturing of masks, gloves and gowns but also of ventilators. We are shoring up our defences…”
PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed as the fund’s external auditor, providing its services on a pro bono basis.