SAGICOR Financial Company Limited announced today that it is committing US One Million Dollars (US$1M) to aid in the fight against COVID-19 in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean’s leading insurance provider will use the US$1 Million to support containment and response efforts and has already started dialogue with governments and health ministries in Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, and the Director General of the OECS. The focus will be placed on enhancing early detection and providing equipment for the immediate care of those already infected.
In Barbados, the company is in discussions with authorities regarding a plan to purchase “walk-through” scanners to be placed at the island’s ports of entry, as well as specific high-traffic facilities. Plans are already at an advanced stage for the distribution of handheld scanners and other medical supplies across the Eastern Caribbean, while in Trinidad & Tobago, the team is working with the government to provide support including the supply of critical medical equipment. Sagicor Jamaica is currently coordinating efforts with other private sector organisations to finance the purchase of medical equipment, as well as online educational tools for primary school students who are out of school during this time.
Group President and CEO of Sagicor Financial Company Limited, Dodridge Miller, described the move as consistent with Sagicor’s history of support for the communities in which we operate. Miller stated, “We all need to support initiatives that will minimize risk and reduce the spread of this virus. It is not only the responsibility of governments to respond to this challenge, but also that of corporate citizens. We hope that this assistance can help to bolster the response of our governments as they seek to fight on our region’s behalf and play our part in the global response”.
Each market will liaise directly with governments and other agencies to determine what support is needed and will handle distribution at the local level.