Covid-19: Mkhize receives donations of over 100 000 PPE for front-line workers

Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize received a donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) from Ithuba Holdings and the Bank of China on 7 May in Sandton.

Ithuba Holdings donated 100 000 reusable face masks and the Bank of China donated 100 000 medical masks, 600 units of protective apparel and five ventilators.

Mara Phones was also thanked for their donation of 500 smartphones and Engen was thanked for their donation of R5.3 million towards PPE.

These are some of the donations that will be received tonight…

Ithuba Holdings – 100,000 medical face masks

Bank of China – 100,000 medical face masks, 600 units of protective apparel, and 5 ventilators

Mara Phones – 500 smartphones

Engen – R5.3m towards PPE #Covid_19

— Department of Health: COVID-19 (@COVID_19_ZA) May 7, 2020

Mkhize thanked members on the front line including police, the military, security companies and healthcare workers amongst others for their sacrifices on the front line.

We want to salute President Ramaphosa for his leadership. We also want to salute our frontline workers and our security teams (Police, Defence force and metro police) We want to say thank you for all the work done.

— Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 7, 2020

“This donation from Ithuba is adding new colour to our fight,” said Mkhize.

“All those that are on the front line need to be exemplary and ensure their own health by having a mask.”

He said the reusable masks can last for up to one year and would be a good investment for front-line workers, who can use them on their commute to and from work.

“If anybody would have said to us in January or February or even the beginning of March that by April all of us would be wearing masks and sitting apart from each other, we would have never imagined it. In a short space of time this Covid-19 has really created a huge change in our lives,” said Mkhize.

The advantage of having these cloth masks for health workers, is they can wear it from home to work and back. Thereafter they can wear the PPE at work.

— Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) May 7, 2020

He also encouraged other companies to come on board and make contributions to assist in the fight against Covid-19.

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