Trafigura and the Trafigura Foundation have jointly donated $150,000 to support the response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The funds will be used to purchase and deliver essential medical equipment to the Mongbwalu General Reference Hospital in the Ituri province. The donation includes 80 hospital beds with mattresses, cardiac monitors, patient monitoring devices, infusion stands, medical furniture, a generator, and health worker uniforms.
The contribution aims to support local efforts to combat the Ebola outbreak and enhance the hospital's capacity to admit and treat patients. The new beds will enable the hospital to replace over 60% of its current bed capacity, addressing one of its most pressing needs. Shari Minerals, a mining company operating in the DRC in partnership with the Congolese gold mining company SOKIMO, will provide logistical support to transport the medical equipment to the hospital.
The Trafigura Foundation has raised over $500,000 in emergency funding to respond to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC. This amount includes a contribution to the Start Fund, managed by the Start Network, a global network of agencies. The funds have helped the medical humanitarian organization ALIMA and the international solidarity organization Action Against Hunger to increase their treatment and isolation capacities and strengthen frontline health facilities.
The funds have also enabled the training of over 300 healthcare professionals and community awareness activities for more than 150,000 people. Dr. Richard Lokudo Lopay, Medical Director of the Mongbwalu General Reference Hospital, expressed gratitude for the donation, stating that it will significantly improve the hospital's diagnostic capabilities, quality of care, and ultimately, save lives.
François Kakese Kimaza, President of the SOKIMO Board of Directors, highlighted the importance of solidarity and collaboration between public institutions, the private sector, and philanthropic partners in addressing the country's health challenges. He emphasized that SOKIMO, which holds strategic mining assets in the Ituri and Haut-Uele provinces, is committed to supporting essential infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and other community equipment.
Hervé Otschudi, Trafigura's Executive Director in the DRC, noted that the company has been present in the country for over 25 years, serving clients in the energy, metals, and mining sectors. He emphasized Trafigura's commitment to supporting local communities during this difficult time and thanked Shari Minerals and SOKIMO for their logistical support in delivering the equipment to the hospital.
Trafigura is a global company that provides essential resources, operating in over 150 countries with a network of infrastructure, logistics services, financing, and market expertise. The company employs approximately 14,500 people, with over 1,400 shareholders, and invests in low-carbon solutions for the future. The Trafigura Foundation, established in 2007, is an independent philanthropic foundation that invests in solutions for communities and ecosystems most affected by climate change in low- and middle-income countries.
Key points
- Trafigura and Trafigura Foundation donate $150,000 to support Ebola response in DRC's Ituri province.
