TOP Zimbabwean businessman Dr Strive Masiyiwa has pledged
to coordinate the procurement and distribution of Covid-19 supplies by the
private sector to unblock the supply chain.
Dr Masiyiwa, who was recently appointed African Union’s
special envoy to coordinate the African Private Sector Initiative for
procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential
supplies.
“Africa has a critical shortage of key items, which are
also in short supply worldwide. The continent needs about 15 million kits per
month to achieve the level of testing needed to contain the spread of the
disease and also eliminate lockdowns,” he said.
Dr Masiyiwa said the continent was getting 2,5 million test
kits per month — a figure that translated to about 50 000 per country.
He said every country including the US, was experiencing
test kits shortages as the tools were not easy to produce.
While setting up production factories could take time,
there were innovations coming through which were likely to see these shortages
eliminated.
Dr Masiyiwa said to solve the supply chain problem, he
initially sought to understand what was required and mobilised African experts,
Governments, the private sector and international stakeholders.
“I’m confident that we can unblock the supply chain to give
African countries immediate access to what they want, ensure that prices are
fair and ensure they can be delivered quickly and efficiently,” he said.
The businessman said he would not be distracted from his
mandate even in the face of resistance and would soon be making known, the
magnitude of supplies secured.
“We have begun to build a formidable alliance of African
and global partners, including funders and suppliers. The next two weeks will
be crucial. There is much resistance, even against me personally. I will not be
distracted because I understand where it comes from,” said Dr Masiyiwa.
He said progress reports to the African governments and the
general public will be provided through a website to be launched during the
first week of June.
AU Chairman and South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa,
recently appointed Dr Masiyiwa to coordinate a private sector-led continental
effort to procure critical PPE and other essential supplies in the fight
against Covid-19. Herald
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