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Michael Tome Business Reporter

Zimbabwe’s leading financial services provider Old Mutual, has donated an assortment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used by frontline health workers in the fight against Covid-19 at four health centres in the country.

The donation is a key aspect of Old Mutual’s business ethics, which focus on addressing the concerns of the wider community and making charitable donations in critical areas.

The PPEs will benefit staff at Parirenyatwa in Harare, Mpilo in Bulawayo, Mutare Provincial and Kwekwe hospitals.

Each hospital received 500 waterproof gowns, 500 face masks boxes, 500 face shields, 500 plastic aprons, 500 latex gloves boxes and 500 Hazmut blue lined suits.

Also, the financial services giant will be providing food hampers to the health workers.

Commenting on the donation, Old Mutual Zimbabwe group chief executive officer Sam Matsekete said; “As Old Mutual, we acknowledge this great effort, and we would like to support government’s efforts by donating personal protective equipment to be used by frontline workers at hospitals across the country.”

“No words can express our appreciation and recognition of the diligent and hard work that the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care have been putting towards mitigating the harsh effects of the Covid-19 pandemic throughout the country.”

The donation comes at a time when Zimbabweans have called on the government to ensure that all vaccination centres are capacitated with more staff in order to increase the number of people being attended to on a daily basis.

Mr Matsekete saluted the health workers for their hard work and commitment in the fight against Covid-19.

“…please continue the fight with the knowledge that Old Mutual will continue to support you and wishes you all success in the fight against the pandemic. As a responsible corporate citizen, we will continue to invest in communities in which we operate to foster social development and economic progress.

“To achieve this, the health of our communities is critical hence this donation to health workers they are not alone in this fight. We are in it together,” said Mr Matsekete.

To counter Covid 19, Zimbabwe’s vaccine roll-out started on February 22 targeting health and other frontline staff.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, has reiterated that procurement of vaccines and the vaccination rollout was part of the economic recovery strategy.