Mbabane: In total, the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) has contributed E860 000 towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 28, the bank donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Ministry of Health.
Making the donation CBE Governor, Majozi Sithole said it is gratifying that even in times like these, when even the most developed countries are lost for solutions, God is still in control, adding that the ministry may not understand it themselves and even ask questions like why it happens during this time. He said Cabinet might have even wished the situation could have happened either during the previous or the next cabinet.
Said the Governor; “But God says there is time for everything and as was foretold in the Holy Book these are the last days and therefore it is time for such. We also appreciate that you cannot place a value on any human being, regardless of age. Even at workplaces we always emphasize that the most valuable assets are the employees. Therefore anything that threatens human life needs to be solved as soon as possible.”
He said the pandemic should motivate every Swati to be guided responsibly, adding that the numbers regularly shared with the public by the ministry are scary. “The situation seems far from stabilizing in the country,” said the Governor.
He said they can see and they empathize with the ministry when, as a matter of responsibility, the ministry has to break the bad news to the country. Sithole said they are praying for and looking forward to that day when the ministry will happily announce to the public that the pandemic is then under control, and therefore redirect efforts to grow the economy.
“Often when we talk about the health of people all eyes inevitably look at the Ministry of Health for solution. We want to appreciate the role the ministry has played so far. In times like this it calls for more than academic training, but also courage, support and guts to deal with this. Your team of nurses and doctors require nation support as they dedicate themselves to fight this pandemic,” said the Governor.
He said for this reason the Central Bank working with the office of the Honorable Minister and PS has found it proper to contribute some personal protective equipment to this brave team that is in the front line of the fight against the pandemic.
“We understand when they themselves at times are said to have shied away from exposure, especially if they do not have protective equipment, because they are also human, they have families and dependents too. Every normal person fears death. So, they require the necessary tools to do their work,” the Governor said.
Adding, he said; “We know what the Bank is contributing is not enough against the total requirement of the Ministry. Even then the Bank is only able to deliver today half of what it selected from the ministry list due to glitches in supply chain and logistics. We await delivery of the remaining half, and as soon as that arrives we will deliver it to the ministry.”
Sithole mentioned that due to the urgent need for the personal protective equipment they felt they could not wait for the full delivery but to handover what is already available. The total value of the Bank’s contribution is E860, 000.
“We therefore request other institutions, companies and individuals to make a contribution, and in the process we are saving our own lives,” said the Governor.
Sithole thanked His Majesty’s Government for trying to stay on top of the situation despite so many pressures. He said they were praying that Cabinet remains united throughout the period of the scourge. He advised Cabinet to be on the lookout for self-interest that could come at the expense of human lives and that they do not let this crisis go to waste, instead utilize it to come up with more lasting solutions to such problems as well as the fiscal challenges the country is facing today and in the future.
“Our wish is for Emaswati to listen to Government’s advice as well as that of WHO. Being such as small population we cannot afford to lose our people regardless of age. This is a test of our unity, Christian faith, determination, character and our peace. We should not fail it,” said Sithole.
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