By Adedapo Adesanya
Ride-hailing service, Uber, in collaboration insurance firm, AXA Egypt, will give away 20,000 free trips and meals to healthcare workers fighting on the frontline against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The news comes after the ride hailing app worked closely with the Ministry of Health and Population to aid healthcare workers in four quarantine hospitals throughout Cairo and Alexandria.
Free trips up to 80 EGP (Egyptian Pounds) will be allocated to help medical professionals get to and from work, and Uber Eats will be committing free meals up to 100 EGP each.
According to the general manager of Uber Egypt, Mr Ahmed Khalil, “It is our role to help the society by providing relief, especially to the medics who work tirelessly to fight COVID-19. The Ministry of Health and Population has welcomed the collaboration, and by joining forces with AXA Egypt, we are able to support the many frontliners.”
“I am proud to launch this collaborative programme, and we will continue to look at ways to bring industries together, so that we can all unite in supporting Egypt at this critical time,” he said further said in a statement.
On the part of the AXA Egypt, board member and deputy CEO, Mr Khaled ElShaarany, he said, “Our integral role extends beyond protection to our customers to fulfil our role as a responsible insurer that plays a vital role in healthcare protection in our society.
“We are pleased that this initiative enables us to show gratitude to the healthcare workers in the front lines and provide them with additional support to address their needs and further induce their prevention measures in this challenging time.”
The collaboration has also equipped their drivers with personal protective equipment (PPE) reimbursements in order to compensate and keep working drivers shielded from the dangers of driving during the pandemic
“While supporting healthcare workers, the safety of everyone who uses the Uber apps remains a priority. Therefore, it has launched a new feature that would give drivers on the platform the choice to opt in or out when driving medics, and for full transparency, those who join the cause will receive a clear message when their upcoming rider is a healthcare worker,” the release also noted.
