Tiger Brands Foundation ready to take decisive steps should Covid19 threat escalate

Tiger Brands Foundation, an organisation dedicated to providing nutritious meals to learners in several schools in all nine provinces throughout the country, is monitoring developments around Corona Virus (Covid19) with the view to take immediate steps to protect the learners who are beneficiaries of the breakfast programme, says Eugene Absolom-Director at Tiger Brands Foundation.

Absolom says the Foundation is keeping a close eye on developments through consultations with stakeholders and taking guidance from the Department of Health as well as the Department of Basic Education, a key partner in the in-school breakfast programme.

“Tiger Brands Foundation is taking the matter very seriously and are monitoring developments round the clock,” says Absolom.

“At this point, given the available information, we are advising our regional staff members working with communities and the schools where we provide breakfast to learners, to exercise extreme care when disseminating information on this matter to avoid sparking unnecessary panic and confusion,” says Absolom.

He says the Foundation is in constant contact with its regional offices to make sure that they have the latest credible information.

Absolom says he is confident that should circumstances dictate that further action be taken, the Foundation will take propriate steps swiftly and without hesitation.

“In maintaining our state of readiness, we are also mindful of the guidance from the National Department of Health on how best to conduct ourselves to ensure that we do not spark unnecessary panic and that we take action that is based on facts,” says Absolom.

At present, the Department of Health is of the view that the situation is under control and those who have been infected by the virus are receiving necessary and adequate care. Furthermore, the Department has also issued several advisory notes to the effect that the country’s health infrastructure is ready to deal decisively with this threat.

In conclusion, Absolom urges everyone to be part of the solution and refrain from spreading information from questionable sources which might lead to unnecessary panic.

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For more information or to arrange for an interview, please contact Phindile Nxumalo on 066 305 2655/011 888 8786 or phindile@ambani.co.za