This is the first of a series of in-kind contributions that will be made to several Lusophone countries in Africa, namely Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde and Sao Tomé and Principe, for which AKDN has been joining efforts with other Portuguese stakeholders, including the national and local government, the Portuguese Cooperation Agency and other civil society organisations.

This was followed by a contribution of 2 ventilators, 10,000 surgical masks, 10,000 pairs of gloves and 2,000 reusable masks to Cabo Verde. The material will be delivered to the Cape Verdeans health authorities in an effort to support the Guinean National Health Institute and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in their response towards the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country. The contribution was made to the Ambassador of Cabo Verde in Lisbon. Mr Eurico Monteiro by the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat, Nazim Ahmad, and the Vice-President of the Oeiras Municipal Council, Mr Francisco Rocha Gonçalves, at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat.

In the third of five contributions to African Portuguese Speaking Countries by the City Council of Oeiras and the Aga Khan Development Network, 2 ventilators, 10,000 surgical masks, 10,000 pairs of gloves and 2,000 reusable masks were offered to São Tomé and Príncipe. The delivery was made by the Vice President of the City Council of Oeiras Francisco Rocha Gonçalves and the Diplomatic Representative of the Imamat Ismaili, Nazim Ahmad in a ceremony which took place on 4 June 2020 at the AKDN building in Lisbon.

This initiative responds to the health crisis caused by COVID-19, by addressing concerns about the access to medical treatment and Personal Protection Equipment, which are scarce in these developing countries.