UBA commits $14m to fighting covid-19 in Africa

Pan-African lender, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Thursday said it would earmark $14 million (around N5 billion) to strengthen the campaign against the covid-19 scourge in Africa.

A statement from the bank this morning said the largesse is crucial in providing aid to Nigeria alongside 19 other African nations by means of “ Supplying relief materials, critical care facilities, and financial support to governments.” UBA has presence in 20 African countries.

The fund will be apportioned as follows:

• N1 billion (USD2.8 million) to Lagos State Government in Nigeria

• N500 million (USD1.4 million) to Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

• N1 billion (USD2.8 million) to the remaining 35 states in Nigeria

• N1.5 billion (USD4.2 million) to UBA’s presence countries in Africa

• Free Telemedicine call centre facility

The bank proposes to put in place a medical facility in Lagos, where it is headquartered, which will include beds for isolation and ICU equipment.

It will run and manage this in collaboration with Avon Medical Centre, a subsidiary of Heirs Holdings.

In the same vein, UBA will make available a physician-led telemedicine platform, designed to “provide direct access to medical advice to citizens, in compliance with social distancing requirements.”

Tony Elumelu, chair of the UBA group said “this is a time when we must all play our part. This global epidemic 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.”