In a message he posted today on his Twitter account, Jack Ma stated “Our second donation to 54 countries in Africa is on the way. That includes 500 ventilators, 200,000 suits and face shields, 2000 thermometers, 1 million swabs & extraction kits and 500,000 gloves.”
On March 16th, 2020, Jack Ma announced he would donate test kits and protective equipment to all 54 countries of Africa via Twitter. “Africa can be one step ahead of the coronavirus. To each of the 54 African countries, we will donate 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks, and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields.”
On top of the donations, Ma said the Foundation would start working with medical institutions in Africa to provide online training material for COVID-19 clinical treatment.
Apart from Africa, Ma has also donated testing kits to many other countries around the world including Italy, Japan, Spain, and the United States.
Ma stated that “In total, 1.1 million test kits and 60,000 protective masks will be sent to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia will be in charge of supervising the equitable distribution of the donation in all African countries.”
On March 24th, 2020, Dr. Abiy Ahmed confirmed that an Ethiopian Airlines cargo aircraft had left Addis Ababa carrying test kits and other equipment destined to South Africa, Burundi, Rwanda, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Sudan.”
In a message posted on Twitter, President Kagame recently commended Jack Ma for his determination to lead the fight against coronavirus.
“Thank you Jack Ma and Jack Ma Foundation for your generous donation of test kits delivered in Kigali today. This is a huge shot in the arm and a much needed contribution in our work to stop the spread of coronavirus. I know the people of Rwanda join me in gratitude.”
Currently, 104 patients have tested positive for coronavirus in Rwanda while 4 of them recovered and were discharged from hospital over the weekend.
One of those arrested is Jean Claude Muhawenimana, 20, who was found in possession of 333 rolls of cannabis, at the time of his arrest in Kageyo Sector in Ngororero.
Hussein Nyatanyi, 43, was also in Nyabihu District, Rugera Sector transporting 250 litres of illicit brew in his car.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Karekezi, Police spokesperson for the Western region, said the duo was arrested in partnership with local leaders and residents, who provided credible information.
“The arrest of Muhawenimana followed previous information from local leaders that he was a major dealer in cannabis in the area,” said CIP Karekezi.
“When Police officers heard that Muhawenimana had brought another consignment of narcotics, they went to his home and recovered 333 pellets of cannabis concealed in a jerrycan, which was hidden on top of the house,” he explained.
The arrest of Nyatanyi, he added, was based on information from residents, who saw him loading jerrycans of illicit substances in his car.
“Nyatanyi had turned his Toyota Hiace vehicle registration number RAB 877I, to transport goods. This time, he loaded 10 jerrycans of illicit brew in his car and covered them with bananas. Good enough, Police had received information and he was intercepted en-route to Musanze District at about 7 pm,” said the spokesperson.
The suspects have been handed over to RIB.
CIP Karekezi commended the residents and local leaders for the credible information on such criminal activities, which led to the arrest of involved individuals.
RNP warns that anyone, who will be caught for such deceitful actions will be dealt with accordingly.
The warning follows the arrest on Sunday, of Bishop Liliane Mukabadege of Hope Prayer Mountain Church in Kimisagara, Nyarugenge District, who lied Police officers of where she was headed.
“Rwanda National Police has arrested Bishop Liliane Mukabadege after she lied officers, who were implementing the government directives meant to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, that she was going to give a talk-show on radio,” said RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera.
He added: “Police officers trailed her to the church in Kimisagara where she was instead going, where she was arrested and her vehicle impounded.”
“When a Police officer stops you, we advise you to avoid telling lies; when you violate the guidelines, you are answerable to it.”
CP Kabera warned that “whoever will be found not complying with the directives will be arrested, fined, and their automobiles impounded.”
He encouraged the public to report anyone violating the directives by calling the toll-free line 112 or text on Whatsapp 0788311155
These actions were all guided by the “4 Healthy initiatives” set by StarTimes’ chairman Pang Xinxing: Healthy Environment, Healthy Mindset, Healthy Behavior, Healthy Body
{{Healthy environment}}
When the outbreak started, StarTimes chairman’s first concern was to protect StarTimes’ employees by creating a Healthy Environment.
As back as February, StarTimes developed and adopted internal guidelines to reduce the spreading risks among all offices across Africa and conducted employees’ training on how to protect themselves and their colleagues.
Since then, StarTimes has been providing a shuttle bus service to employees so they don’t have to take public transportation. The company is also planning to bring packs of face masks to distribute among employees and partners in Africa. In Zambia, StarTimes donated a batch of supplies and is planning similar donations in other countries.
{{Healthy Behavior}}
Once StarTimes employees were able to work in a healthy environment, the following step was to make sure that other people in Africa could be made aware of what is Healthy Behavior.
As soon as the outbreak started, rumors have been spreading, fake news have been circulating on social media and people have been acting irrationally. Fear and ignorance are the main dangers for communities. As a media group, it is StarTimes’ role to disseminate accurate and official information to help maintain required operation in society.
StarTimes’ employees have produced 30 short videos in 6 languages to raise awareness about the virus and to communicate about basic advice from the World Health Organization.
These videos are posted on Facebook and broadcast daily on TV. StarTimes also edited a set of 30 posters in 3 languages based on WHO advice aimed at raising awareness on the virus and at helping families to cope with the situation.
Through a better understanding of the virus and of the outbreak, people would adopt a Healthy Behavior, protecting themselves, their families and their community.
{{Healthy Mindset}}
Information is a weapon against the virus. The virus can be beaten. It has already been proved in China and it shall be witnessed around the world. People need hope, they need to know what others are going through, have been through to beat the outbreak. That is why StarTimes decided to produce the “StarTimes Daily —— COVID-19 Report”.
It shares, on a daily basis, world news, experience, testimonies, and advice in order to bring hope to people facing the pandemic. Produced in 6 languages it is broadcast on 12 channels and on StarTimes ON streaming app.
Already in Guinea and soon in other countries, StarTimes is sharing this program with local TV stations. So, hope can reach every household and people can keep a Healthy Mindset during the crisis.
Keeping a Healthy Mindset also means having children engaged while at home. Kids need to learn and to get entertained. StarTimes recently launched a new channel, Mindset Learn, and a new edutainment TV program on ST Kids called Home Schooling to keep the children stimulated. In Uganda and Kenya, StarTimes added new educational programs in partnership with local organizations.
{{Healthy Body}}
Lastly, as people stay home, they still need to live their life.
That starts by checking your health so nobody is put at risk. To help people know whether they need a medical examination, StarTimes launched the “COVID-19 Self-evaluation and Reference System” on StarTimes ON app as a pre-diagnosed system.
Through a series of questions, users can get advice on whether and how to take actions afterward, such as calling the helpline and be taken to the hospital. StarTimes is also about to launch a TV shopping platform that will provide a safe way to do shopping from home without the need to go out.
In the meantime, in some countries, StarTimes’ after-sales service has taken arrangements to keep operating and guarantee a high level of service during the crisis. The door-to-door service is operated by StarTimes engineers with sufficient protection, dubbed as “heroes on the front line”.
StarTimes also reinforced its online payment services so people can recharge directly from their home through third-party partners and StarTimes ON.
The StarTimes application has been opening its platform to subscribers, providing a hundred channels for free to users across Africa. By making sure people don’t have to leave home to get access to services, StarTimes is trying to protect families around the continent, helping them keep a Healthy Body.
Healthy Environment, Healthy Mindset, Healthy Behavior, Healthy Body. Through the “4 Healthy initiatives”, StarTimes’ chairman Pang Xinxing has pushed StarTimes to new heights to support Africa while facing this unprecedented pandemic.
StarTimes is the leading digital TV operator in Africa, serving 13 million DVB subscribers and 20 million OTT users with a signal covering the whole continent and a massive distribution network of 170+ brand halls and 30,000+ distributors in 37 countries.
StarTimes owns a featured content platform, with 600 authorized channels consisting of news, movies, series, sports, entertainment, children’s programs, etc. The company’s vision is “To ensure that every African family can access, afford, watch and share the beauty of digital TV”.
The four have been discharged after undergoing thorough tests that have established they no longer carried COVID-19 in their bodies.
The patients left the health center between 11.30 am and 12.05 pm, all looking healthy, putting on masks as prevention and safety measures.
Each of the four patients has been given a discharge certificate indicating that they have fully recovered from COVID-19.
Patient zero was identified in Rwanda by the Ministry of Health on 14th March 2020; an Indian citizen that had arrived in the country on 8th March 2020 from Mumbai.
The Ministry of Health on Saturday recorded 13 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total of diagnosed with the virus to 102. All the patients have been isolated in designated medical facilities, getting treatment, with no one in critical condition.
Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Kenyatta, Keita, Al Sissi, Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia, Moussa Faki, African Union Commission Chairman and Dr Tedros, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General were also part of the meeting.
In a message posted via Twitter, President Kagame stated “We discussed the need for Africa to stand together,speak with one voice &work through our institutions to mobilize resources and harmonize the support from international partners.Thank you to initiatives by African institutions such as the African Development Bank and the Trade Finance Bank of Africa for their support.”
President Kagame thanked them for their commitment and contribution towards mitigating the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.
On April 3rd, 2020, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed commented on the conference call in a Twitter post which read “With updates on actions taken and challenges the continent faces, we discussed the need for collective leadership to circumvent the adverse effects of the #COVID19 crisis. A coordinated African approach is critical as we pursue economic responses with global partners.”
President Kagame recently held discussions with Kristalina Georgiva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Georgiva reiterated the IMF commitment to support African countries during the COVID-19 crisis and thanked President Kagame for his exemplary leadership.
“The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has approved a $109.4 million (Rwf 104 billion) disbursement to Rwanda to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.”
IMF stated that economic impacts of the coronavirus are expected to deteriorate within the coming period and many countries will struggle to meet their fiscal and financial needs.
Currently, 89 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Rwanda while the number of patients has reached over a million globally. 58, 127 people died from the virus while 227,716 recovered.
The Minister in an interview with the media said that there is a big financial gap to fill due to unforeseen expenditures especially in the health sector where there is need for the purchase of adequate equipment needed to test and treat coronavirus patients. “We also intend to keep offering the much-needed assistance to vulnerable households in Rwanda which were highly affected by the crisis.”
Ndagijimana said that Rwanda’s economy will grow by 5.1% instead of the formerly projected 8.1%.
“Tax revenues will considerably reduce given that most businesses are on hold during the lockdown as well as the import and export of goods. On another note, unforeseen expenditures will cause a drop in our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We recorded an increase in GDP by 9.4% in 2019 but with the support of the IMF, we have revised our figures and we expect GDP growth at only by 5.1%.”
The government of Rwanda recently announced the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has approved a $109.4 million (Rwf 104 billion) grant to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.
The aid will be drawn under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF). It is a zero-interest, long term loan which will be paid back over a period of 10 years starting from the five and a half years to come.
Currently, the government of Rwanda is negotiating for aid with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to bridge the financial gap brought about by coronavirus.
Ndagijimana stated that funds from IMF will not impact economic progress since it is a long-term loan which will be paid back five and a half years from now. He said that a thorough analysis was done to assess repayment capabilities before requesting for the loan.
Currently, 89 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Rwanda while the number of patients has reached over a million globally.
The Chief Executive Officer of BK Dr. Diane Karusisi said that the intervention is meant to overcome financial difficulties occasioned by the coronavirus outbreak and reduce the strain on small businesses and individuals with an income flow that was also negatively affected.
“To our customers who want to continue servicing their facilities, the Bank will waive all late payment penalties on all Term loans (loans with monthly installments), including BKquick loans as well Credit card penalties for the months of March, April and May 2019,” Karusisi explained.
For customers who wish to continue servicing their facilities, the Bank will waive all late payment penalties on all Term loans (loans with monthly installments), including BKquick loans as well Credit card penalties for the months of March, April and May 2019.
For further assistance or advice, customers can reach out to their relationship managers or branch business managers.
In addition, Bank of Kigali has donated Rwf 282,000,000 to the government of Rwanda to support vulnerable families and communities affected by the crisis.
Bank of Kigali continues to provide banking services at all its branches but advises customers to use digital channels during transactions to stem the spread of coronavirus.
BK stands ready to support speedy economic recovery in Rwanda.
Victims reported the assault to local media on March 2nd, 2020.
Military spokesperson Lt Col Innocent Munyengango told IGIHE that investigation is ongoing and that the military court will follow up with the proceedings to ensure justice is served.
Lt Col Munyengango said that crimes committed by a Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) soldier cannot be tolerated and that the three suspects will be prosecuted as stated by the law.
“Their court hearing will be public and will be conducted where the crime was committed.”
Patient zero was identified in Rwanda on March 14th, 2020 and since then the number has grown to reach 84.
Pink Mango C&D administration stated that the rapid test kits will come in handy since results are available between 5 to 10 minutes.
Ndemezo Denis, Pink Mango C&D Executive Director said that 1000 additional test kits will soon be shipped to Rwanda. “China used rapid diagnostic test kits to stem the spread of coronavirus and today no new cases of the virus have been identified. We expect the same results for Rwanda and that life will go back to normal as soon as the virus is contained.”
Ndemezo said that the private sector needs to support the government of Rwanda during this critical period and help counter the economic effects posed by the outbreak.
Dr. Nsanzimana Sabin, Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) Director General confirmed that RBC received the donation from Pink Mango C&D.
“We are in desperate need now more than ever of test kits and protective equipment for coronavirus treatment. The donation from Pink Mango C&D was more than valuable to us.”
After coronavirus spread in China towards the end of 2019, the country has injected countless resources and invested in treating infected patients and preventing new infections. The ministry of industry and ICT in China has recently announced that 98.6% of industries and institutions in China have reopened business after a 3-month long lockdown.
Vice-Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xin Guobin reported that major industries and pharmaceutical companies have resumed operations while 76% of SMEs have reopened business as well.
