• Health

Capricorn and Old Mutual invest in much-needed oxygen

Staff reporter

Capricorn, through the Capricorn Foundation, and Old Mutual have partnered with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and other private-sector companies who formed a coalition called Business Namibia Covid-19 Response as an immediate response to strengthen Namibia’s fight against the pandemic.

The coalition is working together to secure oxygen supply, construct temporary medical facilities and supply medical equipment during this third wave of the pandemic that has claimed many lives.

The first priority of the coalition members has been to secure emergency medical oxygen from South Africa in close collaboration with the ministry of health and social services, the ministry of finance and local suppliers of oxygen.

Old Mutual purchased 21 tonnes of medical oxygen to the value of N$350 000. Capricorn Group, through the Capricorn Foundation, donated N$1 050 000 to cover the cost of three 21-tonne oxygen trucks.

Ndangi Katoma, the marketing, communications and customer strategy executive at Old Mutual, remarked that Old Mutual continues to stand up in protecting the lives of Namibians.

“Covid-19 has been devastating to our economy and our livelihoods. The statistics started as just numbers. But the numbers turned into names and it is names that we dearly know like our colleagues and customers. For many Namibians, the names are their spouses, parents, family members, friends and associates, that have succumbed to Covid, particularly in the devastating month of June,” Katoma said.

Thinus Prinsloo, the group chief executive officer (CEO) of the Capricorn Group, said there has never been a better time for them to show what it means to be connectors of positive change. “In total, Capricorn Group’s contribution will secure 63 tonnes of oxygen for Namibians. We have also offered our assistance to the coalition in terms of logistical and administrative support,” said Prinsloo.

“I am grateful that we are in a position to contribute to this effort, which once again proves the power in collaboration and working together towards a common goal to create meaning full change and making a deep and lasting impact,” said Marlize Horn, the acting head of the Capricorn Foundation.

Charity Mwiya, the CEO of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, thanked the private sector for joining this initiative as the NCCI continues to mobilise support from within the Namibian private sector.

“We want to ensure that we are in a position to offset the shortfall through sponsorship and donations towards the costs and logistics in addressing the critical oxygen supply and other Covid related critical needs such as hospital beds availability in our country,” Mwiya said.