JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) –  A trio of top companies has partnered to protect frontline medical staff, patients and visitors at four major Gauteng State hospitals.

AngloGold Ashanti, Sasol and Imperial are collectively providing bulk hand sanitiser supplies to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic, Charlotte Maxeke Academic, Helen Joseph and Leratong hospitals.

“A partnership that brings together not only capital, but complementary assets and skillsets will be vital to changing the course of the Covid-19 pandemic,” AngloGold VP health Dr Bafedile Chauke stated in a news release to Mining Weekly.

Dr Chauke was joined by Sasol Base Chemicals VP Thabiet Booley and Imperial Group CEO Mohammed Akoojee, who reiterated that the companies were at one in striving to reduce Covid-19 risk.

Current precautions being taken at medical facilities and the expected increase in cases in the months ahead would require medical facilities to have more than their usual stock of sanitiser, the companies stated.

They had thus worked closely with the dedicated clinical managers at the hospitals to find an innovative way to address the need for sanitiser sustainably.

In this regard, AngloGold was providing the specially manufactured bulk storage tanks and sharing with Sasol the cost of increased sanitiser production, while Imperial had brought its freight and logistics expertise to bear by ensuring that the sanitiser tanks would be safely transported from Sasol to the four Gauteng hospitals.

Additional partners would be sought to ensure sustainability and extension to other facilities as experience from around the world had shown that partnerships were an effective way to boost relief efforts and general hand hygiene would remain an effective line of defence until a vaccine for Covid-19 was discovered.

AngloGold said it remained in a state of high-alert and preparedness to deal with the global Covid-19 challenge presented, with its steps to prevent its spread including:

• increased employee screening and surveillance;
• the banning of non-essential travel;
• the institution of self-quarantine measures where applicable; and
• increased hygiene awareness and facilities across its operations.