– May 16, 2020The National Business Compact on COVID-19 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.
It is a coalition convened by the Marketing Society of Kenya that comprises of brands in the hygiene business, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Association of Practitioners in Advertising, Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Public Relations Society of Kenya, AMREF, SDG Partnership Platform and the UN family in Kenya whose main objective is to accelerate local action and support government efforts in countering the pandemic.
NBCC is guided by four strategic pillars: Leadership and Passion; Alignment around common priority; Pooling of Resources ; and Agility in Deployment. Leadership and passion combined can catalyse rapid action.
The COVID 19 pandemic has caused major disruption, damage and loss of lives all around the world. For Africa, the situation is no different and is further promoted by our inadequate and and constrained health care systems, densely populated urban areas, inadequate funds, poor living conditions in the slums and poor infrastructure.
Since the first cases across Africa were reported, government have taken decisive actions and preventive measures to close down schools, businesses, limit public gatherings, enforcing lockdown and running massive public health campaigns.
Businesses have also heeded the call and are stepping up to the challenge by forming coalitions that are mobilizing resources to support the government in fighting the pandemic and NBCC is one of these coalitions.
The main aim of National Business Compact on COVID 19 is to reach the low income and vulnerable communities by distributing hygiene essentials and setting up hand washing facilities with water and soap across hotspots identified by the Ministry of Health countrywide.
Some of the initiatives the coalition has come up with include; the drive and amplification of consumer education awareness and prevention measures on the pandemic, mobilizing retailers and suppliers in distribution of essential services and products in the low income and urban slums countrywide, setting up hygiene centers across identified hotspots in vulnerable populated areas.
The coalition has also donated Kshs 3 million to support government quarantine facilities, and Kshs 2 million to support doctors in call centers, these funds have been raised by corporates within the coalition.
In Addition, there has been a donation of over 30,000 bar soaps to reach at least 6000 families.
NBCC has also partnered with local media houses to sensitize and educate the public on hand washing, sanitizing, and social distancing as a way of helping the government drive awareness and education towards adopting pro-social behaviors.
All these has been successfully achieved through the creation of a Flexi Fund led by AMREF Health Africa on behalf of the partners.
In summary, the goal of the National Business Compact on COVID 19 is to ensure that the business community gives the government adequate resources in form of funds, services, and essential products during the ongoing pandemic in order to help fight the Corona Virus.
