Bridgestone Corp. will donate $1 million to critical efforts underway in Liberia and the region to combat the deadly outbreak of Ebola in Africa.
Specifically, $500,000 will be paid to Samaritan’s Purse by Bridgestone Americas Inc. for work in Liberia, while Bridgestone Corp. itself will donate $500,000 to support UNICEF’s efforts in Liberia and Nigeria.
According to Bridgestone, Firestone Liberia has been directly affected by the Ebola outbreak. Since the outbreak hit Liberia, there have been approximately 71 Firestone Liberia employees, family members, retirees and people from surrounding communities who have contracted the virus. The Firestone Medical Center, located on Firestone Liberia’s rubber farm, has been treating patients in its Ebola Treatment Unit, which has helped 17 people survive the deadly disease, according to the company.
“Our Firestone Liberia teammates and community have selflessly met the demands of this deadly outbreak and we support them and the great work Samaritan’s Purse and UNICEF are doing in the region to help protect the citizens of Liberia and West Africa,” said Gary Garfield, CEO and president of Bridgestone Americas. “We implore others to step up in taking on this fight against Ebola.”
The funds are aimed at strengthening efforts to stop the spread of Ebola through public awareness; helping facilitate delivery of in-home care supplies for the sick; enhancing medical treatment; and providing support for children left orphaned due to the epidemic.
In addition to the Firestone Medical Center’s Ebola Treatment Unit, Firestone Liberia’s emergency response to Ebola includes active case management, investigations, contact tracing, as well as intervention measures and strategies to help protect and care for thousands of people who live in the Firestone community. Part of the intervention strategy is a mass education program which reaches its more than 8,000 employees and approximately 72,000 additional people residing within Firestone’s property, as well as many more in the surrounding communities.
The company noted that Firestone Liberia is also working closely with the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO, among other organizations.
