An online marketer, Jumia, on Monday says as part of the global action to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak it would be offering its ecosystem to help protect communities on the continent.
Juliet Anammah, Group Head of Institutional Affairs at Jumia, made this known in a statement made available in Lagos.
Anammah said that the company would support the government through its ecosystem which includes marketplace, logistics and online payments.
“We are proud to partner relevant authorities to help fight against COVID-19 and support our communities which continue to support us.
“E-commerce platforms like ours, with e-payment and last mile delivery capabilities, are uniquely positioned to be part of Africa’s response strategy to this pandemic and we are swiftly taking actions,” she said.
Anammah said that Jumia’s actions to support governments in their fight against COVID-19 included facilitation of social distancing by enabling consumers to buy online.
She said that by offering contactless delivery options the organisation could eliminate physical contact and potentially reduce person-to-person infection.
“We will be providing access to affordable basic foods and sanitary essentials on the marketplace platform by partnering thousands of vendors, like Reckitt Benckiser among others.
“Jumia has waived the commission on specific sanitary products to help consumers get them at the lowest price and implemented measures to control prices.
“Jumia will be offering logistics networks to help distribute health pamphlets and key products to where they are needed.
“Additionally, Jumia provides safe deliveries to consumers everywhere, including remote and rural areas, with Jumia’s integrated logistics network; this is important especially for elderly and sick people at home,” Anammah said.
She noted that Jumia would also be Sourcing and distributing face masks by leveraging on its access to supply outside Africa.
Anammah said the company had donated certified face masks to health ministries in Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Nigeria, and Uganda among others.
She noted that in a bid to support governments’ to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease through physical cash, the company offered special discounts for all payments done via `Jumia Pay’ to promote cashless transaction.
“We are collaborating with the Ministries of Health in Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Uganda and South Africa by using our online platform to share important health messages from the Ministries.
“We anticipate that as the pandemic evolves, health authorities may need to address different areas of concerns and platform like Jumia can amplify the reach of much needed information,” Anammah said
