Lafarge Egypt, a member of Lafarge Holcim Group, is joining forces in the maintenance and modernisation of 460 ventilators in public hospitals as part of efforts to support the country's fight against coronavirus pandemic. The move is part of two corporate social responsibility initiatives with the Egyptian Food Bank and the Egyptian Cure Bank, aimed at supporting irregular daily workers, and enhancing medical services provided to coronavirus patients in Egypt. "In this unsettling time, … We want to ensure that we are complying with all government directives to help stop the spread of the virus, ease the suffering and bring about an end to it as quickly as possible." Solomon Baumgartner Aviles, CEO of Lafarge Egypt, said. Solomon Baumgartner Aviles, CEO of Lafarge Egypt "Our responsibility and sustainability approach uses our presence and resources in Egypt to provide solutions toward addressing social, environmental and stakeholder challenges, with one clear goal: to create shared value with society." "Within this framework, Lafarge Egypt launched two corporate social responsibility programmes. The first with the Egyptian Cure Bank, where Lafarge Egypt contributed in supporting irregular daily workers of the informal sectors by providing 2000 food boxes for temporary worker's families in Qalyubia Governorate. "The second (programme) with the Egyptian Cure Bank, meeting the increasing demand on medical ventilators in the light of global shortage by the reckon, maintenance & modernization of 460 ventilator devices in public hospitals." Aviles said. Moez El Shohdi, president of the Food Banking Regional Network and the CEO of the Egyptian Cure Bank, said the strategic partnership with Lafarge all started in 2010. "Today, we are leveraging on what we've started long ago by supporting irregular daily workers through the Egyptian Food Bank, while greatly contributing in repairing medical ventilators in the state's hospitals through the Egyptian Cure Bank." El Shohdi said. Formerly, Lafarge Egypt contributed in the School Nutrition Box initiative that aimed at providing high nutritional meals to underprivileged students. With an immense sense of belonging, Lafarge Egypt along with its employees donated a whole working day wage – proudly participated in the School Nutrition Box to back up underprivileged communities in Egypt, the company said in a statement.
