Alibaba Group President, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma to donate 20,000 coronavirus test kits and more than 100,000 masks to African countries

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Alibaba Group President, Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, announced a donation of 20,000 coronavirus test kits and more than 100,000 masks to African countries to help them fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Jack Ma made the announcement during an audience with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday March 15. He also said that the package includes a practical guide that provides information on how to treat patients with the virus.

It should be noted also that The United States is facing a shortage of testing kits and medical face masks as the coronavirus continues to spread, but Alibaba billionaire Jack Ma has stepped in to help.

In a statement released by his charitable foundation Friday, Ma said he worked to collect the scarce medical supplies for weeks. While the statement did not specify where in the United States the tests and masks would go, they could help alleviate a shortage of testing materials that has contributed to the US falling behind other nations on the number of tests performed per capita.

"Drawing from my own country's experience, speedy and accurate testing and adequate personal protective equipment for medical professionals are most effective in preventing the spread of the virus," Ma said in a statement released by his charitable foundation on Twitter Friday morning "At this moment, we can not beat the virus until we eliminate boundaries to resources and share our know-how and hard-earned lessons."

This is not Ma's first attempt to provide relief. On January 30, the billionaire pledged 100 million yuan ($14.5 million) to "support the development of a coronavirus vaccine." 

Ma later donated an additional $2.15 million to the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Australia, to help fund the development of a vaccine.

Ma was crowned Asia's richest man Thursday after one of the largest single-day drops in market history, Fortune reported.

Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

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