Bamburi Cement Ltd has committed Ksh15.6 million to help the fight Covid-19. Of the amount, Ksh5 million is direct cash contribution to the government’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund set up by President Uhuru Kenyatta to mobilize resources to support the fight against the spread of Coronavirus.
A further Ksh5.52 million has been allocated for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment for caregivers in public hospitals and digital thermometers for use at the hospitals, dispensaries and by Rapid Response teams. Ksh2.4 million has been utilized to support communities in Mombasa, Kilifi, Machakos, Kwale and Kajiado with handwashing water tanks, face masks and sanitizers.
Speaking during the cheque handover to theCovid-19 Emergency Response Fund Board, Bamburi Cement Group Managing Director Seddiq Hassani said the contributions go towards humanitarian support of the vulnerable members of the society, adding that the company is looking to partner with stakeholders in providing intervention in areas of need. The company has additionally set aside Ksh3 million as further support to the community.
“As a key player in the building and construction industry, we acknowledge that we have an important role to play in supporting the community and the economy during this crisis and facilitating in any way possible the rapid and sustained economic recovery,” said Mr Hassani noted.
He said the decision to support the fight against Covid-19 was in line with the company’s Health and Safety policy. “Health and Safety in the overarching value in our operations, hence our contribution to protect and safeguard people’s wellbeing in communities where we operate,” he said.
Since the announcement of the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in March 2020, Bamburi has been supporting local vulnerable communities at the various sites of operations and continues to work with different stakeholders to meet different needs and interventions related to the pandemic, he added.
Despite the growing number of confirmed Coronavirus cases, Mr Hassani noted that with the enforcement of emergency measures backed up by legislative strength under the Public Health to counter the spread of Covid-19, the country has the resilience to overcome the negative impact the pandemic has presented to the economy. The company remains cautiously optimistic in its business projections.
In ensuring its staff welfare, Bamburi has continued to issue all its staff with Covid-19 care packs containing face masks, sanitizers, digital thermometers and surgical gloves, for use at home with their families.
In addition, the company has been organizing webinars for all its employees where experts discuss topical issues to help them maneuver the economic, social and health hurdles posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, among other kinds of support.
