Local Cape Verde associations start Covid-19 solidarity fundraising campaign

Local Cape Verde community associations announced the launch of a fundraising campaign to purchase and send medical equipment and materials to face the Covid-19 outbreak in the African country.

The initiative was organised by the Macau-Cape Verde Friendship Association and the Cape Verdean Culture Promotion Association (ADCC), with support from the country’s delegation at the Forum for Economic and Trade Co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao).

“The initiative was born from the need we felt of joining the voice of the diaspora to assist cape Verde, with the country having already reported some cases. We wanted to raise money to purchase medical equipment for frontline health workers,” local cardiologist and ADCC management member, Mário Évora, told MNA.

“Cape Verde has 10 islands but its community abroad represents the 11th island, and if each of us can raise some money we will do our part in the containment efforts”.

The initiative will last for 30 days, with Évora stating that no set goal for raised funds was established by the associations.

Transfers can be made to the Solidarity Cape Verde COVID-19 account 9016573567 in local bank Banco Nacional Ultramarino (BNU).

The Portuguese-speaking African country has so far reported seven confirmed Covid-19 cases and one death.

The bank has also been involved in a separate fundraising effort by local Portuguese associations, which raised about MOP2.4 million (US$300,557) to purchase medical equipment for the European country’s Covid-19 outbreak containment efforts.