This archive report was first published on 14 June 2020.
On June 14, 2020, Kenya Reinsurance Corporation Limited made a significant contribution to the global fight against COVID-19 by donating Sh40 million to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
The donation comes at a critical time when the world is facing a severe shortage of PPEs, as predicted by the World Health Organization (WHO). This shortage has left healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients due to limited access to essential supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons.
According to Kenya Re Chairman Chiboli Shakaba, the donation is crucial in supporting the Government's efforts to contain the spread of the pandemic. 'We have heard and read of stories in the news about shortages of PPE kits across the world, this poses a serious threat because without them testing and treating patients with the disease will be made very difficult.'
Kenya Re Managing Director, Jadiah Mwarania, emphasized the importance of the donation, stating, 'As Kenya's biggest reinsurer, we are committed to helping our majority shareholder – the Government of Kenya, in fighting this pandemic that has affected us all in one way or another. Our donation is a boost to the Government's efforts geared at containing the spread of the deadly Coronavirus disease.'
The donation was channeled through the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund, which was established to mobilize resources for emergency response towards containing the spread and impact of COVID-19.
Notably, this donation comes two months after the Corporation announced a 35 percent growth in profit for the year 2019, with a profit before tax of Sh4.17 billion.
