DONATED E20M ALREADY DEPLETED

MBABANE – The gravity of the coronavirus outbreak has seen the about E20 million donated by various companies and organisation being depleted.

As it is, the country is in dire need of ventilators, ICU beds, personal protective equipment, testing kits and masks.

National Disaster Management Agency Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Russell Dlamini yesterday made a plea to potential donors to direct funds towards the purchase of the aforementioned items. Dlamini said the gap was huge when it came to these items as they were in demand and were no longer available. According to the CEO, they needed to have E50 million to purchase ventilators alone. He said they would continue accepting other donations as well but they would be more than happy to first receive the items, which were a priority.

Dlamini explained that as they collected the funds, they were directed to the prioritised list. “So far, we have managed to buy medical equipment, water tanks, soap and sanitisers,” said Dlamini.  He said all funds raised towards the fight of the spread of COVID-19 in the country had been allocated to their needs.
Further, he assured the nation that there were no funds which were being kept so far as all resources that were received had been utilised.
“Just this morning (yesterday), an amount of E26 million reflected in our account and the funds have also already been allocated,” he explained when receiving donations from other companies yesterday at Happy Valley.

To date, the country has raised E24 762 240, following the E5 525 000 yesterday. Chairman of the Resource Mobilisation Committee, Phil Mnisi thanked companies and individuals for responding speedily in donating towards the fight against COVID-19.

Mnisi said the nation was doing all it could to ensure that the spread of the virus was stopped. He encouraged other companies to also come on board in supporting the good cause. Mnisi said interested companies and donors should call any member of the Resource Mobilisation Committee and indicate that they would be making a donation in support of raising funds for COVID-19.
One of the companies that donated included the RES Corporation, which made an in-kind donation of E225 000 of 1 500 litres of sanitisers.

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