Nestlé Côte d’Ivoire donates ventilators to assist local hospital in care for COVID-19 patients

Nestlé said the donation is timely, as the need for ventilators exceeds available equipment. It took place in Côte d'Ivoire but it could have been elsewhere in the world.

“Expressions of solidarity and support to those impacted by COVID-19 are becoming more commonplace; and Nestlé and its employees have stood up and helped around the world. There is a common thread to the most impactful initiatives: the best ideas come from the employees directly. This is what makes each donation so unique and a true source of pride for all​,” it said.

The initiative originated from Dr Patricia Amondji, Dr Marie-Claude Kouassi and Dr Eric Bouaffon, doctors at Nestlé Côte d'Ivoire, who suggested a donation to the Infectious and Tropical Disease Service of the Treichville University Hospital.

There were also 10 automatic hospital beds, gowns and surgical masks offered for distribution by the Treichville COVID-19 unit to the 15 care units, 14 screening facilities and three confinement centers newly opened in the country to manage the pandemic in a decentralized manner.

The Swiss Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire Anne Lugon-Moulin, who helped deliver the ventilators to the hospital, commended the Ivorian government on its response to the pandemics and said: "I am impressed by the ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the preventive measures to adopt in order to minimize the spread of the coronavirus​."