National Business Compact on COVID-19 boosts handwashing stations in a bid to fight the pandemic

Marketing Society of Kenya (MSK) CEO, Edward Oswe (center) holding one of the 700 water tanks as he interacts with AMREF Health Africa Global Director of partnerships, Desta Lakew (right) and Copia Kenya Vice President marketing, Catherine Mudachi (left). The water tanks are to be provided to the hotspots areas that the ministry of health has identified.

Copia Kenya, in partnership with AMREF Health Africa, has donated 500 tanks to The National Business Compact on COVID-19 (NBCC) to support the Government’s efforts in containing the spread, effects and impact of COVID- 19 in Kenya.

The tanks will be dispatched to Bungoma, Embu, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kisumu, Lakipia, Meru, Murang’a, Nakuru, Narok, Siaya, Tharaka Nithi, Vihiga in a bid to ensure sufficient assistance to the government in handwashing.

Speaking during the hand over, Catherine Mudachi, the Marketing Vice president at Copia Kenya said,” Copia is a proud partner of the NBCC coalition with other organizations. Our role as Copia is to leverage on our diverse logistics and distribution systems to ensure that the hand washing stations that have been contributed by different partners end up being used in the local community.”

“To date we have distributed up to 1500 units with another 500 going out today. We have so far managed to keep the hands of 1.5 Million Kenyans clean across Central Kenya, Riftvalley and Western Kenyan. We urge Kenyans to continue washing hand regularly using the soap that has also been provided together with the hand washing units na pamoja tutakomesha Corona.” She added.

The coalition in partnership with the government has scaled hand washing stations in hotspots within the country with donations of 2000 stations set up in Nairobi, Central, Coastal areas with a reach target of 7,500 country wide.

In addition to this they have also raised over 80 million both in cash and in-kind donation from Unilever, Pz Cussons, Reckitt & Benckiser, Live Ad, Protel Studios, Menengai, Pwani Oil Product, Chandaria Industries, BRCK, Beiersdorf, Copia, Microsoft, Rotary International, Johnson & Johnson, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), Twiga and Jumia.

NBCC so far comprises of brands in the hygiene business, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), AMREF, SDG Partnership Platform and the UN family in Kenya.

NBCC was launched on March 16 2020, through the efforts of The Ministry of Health to mobilise support from corporates and private firms in countering the Covid-19 pandemic. The goal of the coalition is to ensure that the business community gives the government adequate resources in form of funds, services and essential products in the wake of COVID-19.