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The Herald Tuesday 21 April 2020
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NMB Business Chamber raises millions for Covid-19 crisis In the weeks before the start of the national lockdown, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber had been working tirelessly to co-ordinate efforts to avert a potential humanitarian crisis that could be brought about by an unmanageable Covid-19 outbreak. Given the rapid and unprecedented spread of the disease globally, it became clear that the country and specifically the region of Nelson Mandela Bay would not be adequately prepared for a large-scale outbreak. “On inquiring about the metro’s state of readiness and following our own analysis, it became apparent that the local healthcare system did not have the sufficient capacity and resources it would require if the Bay recorded a high number of infections,” Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO Nomkhita Mona said. “As the leading voice of business in the metro, we knew the business chamber had a responsibility to mobilise the private sector’s efforts wherever it was possible to assist.” Since the announcement of the lockdown towards the end of March, the chamber has made a significant difference through co-ordinated efforts from its member companies, while continuously lobbying for support from government, local businesses and citizens. “To our pleasant surprise, this has become a multimillionrand initiative in a very short space of time. “Literally, within weeks, the business sector and members of society responded positively to our call to action,” Mona said.
Joint Operations Committee
The first step was to establish an internal joint operations committee (JOC), chaired by the president of the Business Chamber, Dr Andrew Muir. The purpose of the JOC is to mobilise and co-ordinate the efforts of businesses and individuals to mitigate the crisis, and to offer support both to these efforts as well as the needs of the district’s healthcare system. The chamber called its member companies to action to assist with medical supplies and resources as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) that would provide protection for front-line staff caring for infected citizens in the metro’s healthcare centres. Following this call, both member and non-member
GETTING BUY-IN: Business chamber CEO Nomkhita Mona says a fund has been set up to better equip the Bay for the impact of Covid-19 Picture:
businesses were quick to respond, offering assistance and support. The business chamber began gathering resources and making plans for a unified response from the private sector and civil society.
Ubuntu Covid-19 Fund
To support the Covid-19 relief efforts in the region, the chamber set up the Ubuntu Covid-19 Fund. This fund is managed by the business chamber with the aim of using financial and non-financial donations to minimise the negative impact of Covid-19 in the metro. “Our goal is to equip our metro and mitigate the potentially devastating impact of the Covid-19 virus,” Mona said. “So far we have raised funds and received donations of various supplies, but have also gained selfless volunteers.
CO-ORDINATED PLAN: Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber president Dr Andrew Muir chairs an internal Joint Operations Committee on the Covid-19 crisis
“Many companies and individuals have pledged their support in this time of crisis, when swift action is required.” Donations can be made via a secure platform on the Business Chamber website at https://www.nmbbusinesschamber.co.za/donation. Alternatively, the following account details may be used for any EFT or cash deposits: Account name: NMBBC Advocacy; bank: Standard Bank; account number: 080102654; branch code: 051001. For more information on how you can help, contact the business chamber via e-mail on joc@nmbbusinesschamber.co.za or 041-373-1122. Also send proof of payment to the above e-mail address.
responded with kindness and innovation to the business chamber’s call to action. These funds will be used to ensure that the required medical supplies and PPE are available. All the companies and individuals who have made contributions are very concerned about the safety and protection of front-line personnel. “It would be a tragedy if these dedicated men and women were to contract the virus in the line of duty,” Mona said. Among those who have made generous contributions are: Coca-Cola Beverages (SA), Santam, E’Zethu Development Trust, the Mandela Bay Development Agency, Umicore Catalyst, GFI Gallery, Investec, Absa, Spar, Cape Produce Company, Mazars, Alan Mounsear-Wilson, Fred Mindermann, Barrie G Harvey, Mr/Ms L Ledingham and a person named Bob.
Refurbishment of hospitals
Next, the business chamber set up a visit to two local hospitals, Livingstone and PE Provin-
cial Hospital, to assess the needs at these centres which could be addressed by the private sector. Isuzu Motors South Africa, a member company, took it upon themselves to renovate these two hospitals to increase the centres’ capacity to care for Covid-19 patients. The renovations included cleaning and painting rooms, electrical and plumbing work, converting some rooms into ablution facilities and other repairs. Investec also made a substantial financial contribution towards the refurbishment of the hospitals in support of the business chamber’s work to assist the medical fraternity. As a result of the renovations, the Provincial Hospital has been equipped as a transfer location for Covid-19 patients, while Livingstone Hospital — as the metro’s dedicated Covid-19 medical institution — can accommodate 135 extra patients. Marquee tents have also been set up at Livingstone, Provincial, the Dora Nginza Hospital and the Laetitia Bam clinic in Uitenhage to support hospitals with the pre-admission and testing process. These tents were donated by various businesses through the Ubuntu Covid-19 Fund. VWSA was one of the companies that immediately came on board when the chamber made the call. Aside from the major facility that VWSA is planning to contribute, they have also contributed the following: assistance in project management to epidemiologist Dr John Black, who is closely involved with relief efforts; design and manufacturing of ventilators (pending medical approval by SAHPRA and NRSC); 3D design and manufacturing of respirators, including personalised masks and ma-
terial masks (pending medical approval by SAHPRA and NRSC); and provision of hand sanitiser. Coca-Cola Bottling SA has made substantial funds available to supply the necessary PPE to hospital staff. Isuzu Motors SA has further generously made its Vehicle Conversion and Distribution Centre in Markman available, where all donated supplies will be stored and distributed from.
rial for use in VW respirators or face masks. Santam made a contribution of a substantial amount of PPE towards the relief efforts. KW Events donated tents, beds, mattresses, mobile basins and toilets, mobile showers and masks. Steve’s Hiring Services donated tents, and ZSports donated tents, gazebos, industrial fans and chairs.
CENTRAL HUB: Isuzu has made its distribution centre in Markman available for storage of donated supplies
The 2,000m² distribution centre will be fully staffed to function daily. It will also provide trucks (including refrigerated trucks) to transport these goods to the relevant medical facilities. Jendamark has put its technology to good use with rapid prototyping 3D printing of nasopharyngeal swabs; CPAP respirator-fitting dive mask face shields (3D printed and a new low-cost/high-volume version); and a prototype build of the CPAP drive unit. It is manufacturing two types of face shield, with the 3D printed ones already in production and 300 of these supplied to the medical fraternity. It has supplied F6 (65% industrial filtration) material for face mask manufacture, and has purchased and is holding F8 (95% industrial filtration) mate-
Coega donated tents and made warehouse space available if needed; Peri Expo donated partitions used at the hospitals; Vodacom donated routers and data for use at the refurbished hospitals, and are extending the data available to these centres; MTN also extended its data availability for these hospitals and provided 15 handsets for use by healthcare practitioners; and Amobia Communications donated a router including installation and connection for use at the Provincial Hospital in the form of a sponsored internet connection for three months. Jason Kieck and Morne van der Schyff supplied 32 drops of curtains for the newly operational hospital wards; City Lodge donated bedding and various other items; Cape Midlands College donated blankets
Business community unites
Through the Ubuntu Covid19 Fund and direct contributions, various businesses have
ALL HANDS ON DECK: Several hospital wards in the Bay have been refurbished in response to the crisis
TESTING STATIONS: Several Bay businesses have contributed towards for Covid-19 testing. This one is at Livingstone Hospital
and linen; Mohair SA donated blankets and socks; and The Terminators donated various articles including toilet roll holders, paper towel, liquid soap dispensers and soap for Livingstone Hospital. Paul Charalambous secured pallets and delivered them to Echo to assist health care givers in the frail care facility.
Next steps
Mona said the donations formed part of the first phase of the chamber’s support drive, with more projects in the pipeline. Among these projects is the possible establishment of a medical facility by VWSA, which will provide the building of their former Neave plant for use. Funding for this facility is expected to be confirmed soon. “We are very encouraged by the positive response from the business and community of Nelson Mandela Bay,” Mona said. “We expect to announce a very big contribution to the Covid-19 fight from VWSA very soon,” she added. The chamber is also hoping to extend its assistance to include improvements at Dora Nginza Hospital. Muir said: “We are immensely grateful for each and every business and individual that committed money, time and other resources to help their fellow man. “We believe it is a moral obligation for those who are able to contribute towards averting a major humanitarian crisis in the fight against Covid-19.” Mona added: “It is heartening to see how our businesses and residents are mobilising for the greater good of the region, the province and the country. “The current contribution by the business and society in Nelson Mandela Bay runs into multimillion-rand. “We are immensely grateful. We are in this fight together, and, through the innovation, determination and kindness that have been demonstrated throughout the metro, I believe we truly can make a difference and flatten the curve.” A special word of thanks also goes to Denise van Huyssteen, Jane Stevenson, Michelle Brown, Roshni Gajjar, Alan Barr and Dr Rufaro Nyamuda for their roles in the team. “It goes without saying that a huge word of gratitude goes to the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Management Team and Staff, for their dedication and hard work,” Mona said.