The United Bank for Africa Plc, on Thursday, announced a donation of $14 million, over N5bn, through the UBA Foundation, to catalyse what it described as a comprehensive pan-African response to the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.
A statement issued by the bank said the donation would provide a significant and much needed support to Nigeria and 19 other African countries, through the supply of relief materials, critical care facilities, and financial support to governments.
The bank said, “The UBA support programme would be allocated as follows: N1 billion ($2.8 million) to Lagos State Government in Nigeria; N500 million ($1.4 million) to Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; N1 billion ($2.8 million) to the remaining 35 states in Nigeria; N1.5 billion ($4.2 million) to UBA’s presence countries in Africa; N1 billion ($2.8 million) for medical centres with equipment and supplies; and free Telemedicine call centre facility.”
The pan-African bank said it would fund a medical centre immediately in Lagos, Nigeria, with beds for isolation and ICU facilities, managed and operated in partnership with Heirs Holdings’ healthcare subsidiary, Avon Medical Hospital.
“In addition, UBA is providing a free telemedicine platform, that is physician-led, to provide direct access to medical advice to citizens, in compliance with social distancing requirements,” the statement added.
It quoted the Group Chairman, UBA, Mr. Tony Elumelu, as saying, “This is a time when we must all play our part. This global pandemic must bring citizens, governments and business leaders together – and quickly. As we see a rapidly increasing number of cases of the coronavirus in Nigeria and Africa, the private sector has to work hand in hand with various governments, in stemming the spread of the global pandemic.
“We commend the efforts of governments and we are keen to partner and contribute our resources to the collective effort, that will ensure the response to the pandemic is swift and effective.”
Operating in 20 African countries and globally in the United Kingdom, the United States and France, UBA has a strong record of supporting its communities, through challenging times.
