The world’s foremost food and beverage giant Nestlé has released $3.4 million in aid to cushion the deleterious effects of Covid-19 on 850,000 vulnerable people in countries across West and Central Africa, a statement said on Monday.In anticipation of post-Covid-19 famine in the two regions, Nestle says it is providing nutritious food and beverages to 170,000 families spread in Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameron, Gabon, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

This is in addition to Nestlé’s provision of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline health workers in the region and other medical materials to hospitals in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal. 

Under the same Nestle package, Burkina Faso will also receive three ventilators for use in its intensive care units.

“We’re offering our full support to families across Central and West Africa during these challenging times,  and to those who are battling to keep them safe,” said Rémy Ejel, CEO of Nestlé Central and West Africa Ltd.

World health officials are warning that the coronavrus pandemic will leave millions of people in hunger across Africa over the next three months.