São Paulo – Some Brazilian companies have started making donations to help combat the new coronavirus. The measures are still shy by significant and could set an example for other companies, banks and individuals to do their part. State-owned company Petrobras, Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Union (UNICA), Marfrig, Unilever, Ambev and Vale have announced money donations, distribution of hygiene and cleaning products, production and distribution of hand sanitizers, purchase of tests for detecting COVID-19, and other measures. Check out the details below.
State-owned company Petrobras will donate 600,000 tests to detect COVID-19 to the United Health System (SUS). The announcement was made last Monday (23). The kits will be imported from the United States later this week and are expected to arrive in April. Out of these, 400,000 tests will be given to the Ministry of Health, while the remaining 200,000 will be delivered to the Health Secretariat of Rio de Janeiro. The company has announced it created a multidisciplinary group of professionals to evaluate and suggest solutions that could help fight the pandemic.
UNICA reported that its member companies will donate alcohol to the state system for manufacturing hand sanitizers and 70% alcohol to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus. This was announced on March 18.
Marfrig, a Brazilian animal protein company, announced the donation of BRL 7.5 million (USD 1,5 million) to the Ministry of Health to buy 100,000 tests to diagnose COVID-19, as well as the distribution of hand sanitizers in the cities it operates. The announcement was made last Monday (23).
Last Sunday (22), Brazil’s minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, said that the government has tried to sign partnerships with the private initiative to finance part of the purchase of tests. “We expect our initiative will be followed by other Brazilian companies. This is a time of union and solidarity,” Marfrig founder and chairman Marcos Molina dos Santos was quoted as saying in a press release.
The company has also released it’ll distribute hand sanitizers to its 18,000 employees, assistance institutions, and hospital in the 12 cities it operates. The company will start producing hand sanitizers in its unit in Promissão, São Paulo where Marfrig operates slaughter and boning as well as a cleaning product plant. The plant is expected to produce 10 tonnes a month of hand sanitizers.
Ambev announced last week (17) it’ll produce 500,000 units of hand sanitizers to distribute to public hospitals (SUS) in the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and Distrito Federal. Each hospital could receive around 5,000 bottles. The company will use its plant in Piraí, Rio de Janeiro to produce ethanol and 500,000 packages. The delivery logistics in the three units of the federation will also be handled by the beverage company.
Consumer goods giant Unilever Brasil announced the donation of BRL 1 million (USD 197,000) in hygiene and cleaning products to support the government of São Paulo to fight COVID-19. This was announced last Monday (23) in a conference of the executive committee led by the governor of the state, João Doria. It will distribute 625,000 products. Which products or brands were not disclosed but the company produces washing powder, deodorant, soap bars, chlorine- and alcohol-based cleaning products, and others. The donations are meant to populations of higher social vulnerability to be defined together with the government of São Paulo, as well as hospitals and nursing homes.
“We are working together with state and city administrations and our own partners to assure that we will overcome this global crisis together, always prioritizing the people’s health,” Unilever Brasil president was quoted as saying in a press release.
Brazilian multinational mining company Vale announced on Tuesday (24) an aid package to its suppliers. The company will expedite payments to small- and medium-sized companies, amounting to BRL 160 million (USD 31 million).
The Homeless Workers Movement (MTST) has created an emergency fund for the homeless affected by the new coronavirus, starting in the state of São Paulo. Donations are also expected to be made in Ceará, Roraima, Rio Grande do Sul, Distrito Federal, Sergipe, Alagoas, and others. The initial goal of BRL 80,000 (USD 16,000) has already been met. In this second phase, the goal is raising BRL 200,000 (USD 39,000) to buy more basic food baskets, medicines, and hand sanitizers. Contributions can be made by the website.
Television host Xuxa Meneghel has also done her part as a public figure and donated BRL 1 million (USD 197,000) to the Ministry of Health though her hair removal franchise Espaçolaser.
*With information from Agência Brasil.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
