The total amount so far invested in these countries exceeds USD 2,2 million for actions to tackle the spread of the virus and treat the disease.

Since the end of January, Vale has taken all measures required to support the prevention of COVID-19 in its operations and to contribute to the regions in which it operates. Globally, the company complies with the health and safety protocols established by the authorities and agencies of each country and aims to support government initiatives in order to alleviate the burden on health care systems. Among the initiatives are donations for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), health care supplies, hygiene materials, rapid test kits, and the swab test for detecting the virus.

However, humanitarian actions are not limited to the acquisition of inputs. In Indonesia, isolation rooms for the intensive care of patients have been set up and equipped; it was an initiative by Vale Indonesia Tbk in support of the Government of the eastern region of Luwu and the Provincial Government of South Sulawesi. Aiming to help Chinese hospitals and their teams address the health challenge, Vale has donated RMB3.3 million to the Chinese Red Cross Foundation. In Canada, in response to Sudbury Food Bank's request for financial support, USD 100,000 was allocated to the Cash for Cans campaign, which sustains the growing demand for food during the pandemic. Aiming to support the Mozambican Government, a memorandum of support to tackle the disease was signed in addition to supplies amounting to almost USD 2,000,000.00 (two million US dollars). This aid includes several hygiene materials, hospital equipment, personal protection items for health care professionals, and 80,000 rapid tests. To contribute to the well-being of the communities in which it operates, Vale Malaysia Minerals (VMM) has donated 20,000 COVID-19 test kits to the Malaysian Ministry of Health, in addition to donations to Manjung – where the maritime terminal of Teluk Rubiah operates –, totaling RM 85,000.

The support for the countries in which Vale operates is continuous to containing the pandemic. The company has planned new donations for actions to tackle the spread of the virus and treat the disease.

These are the main humanitarian actions already taken, in each country, by Vale to tackle the COVID-19:

China

Action to support the Chinese Red Cross Foundation – RMB 3.3 million

•     Purchase of health care supplies, including protective clothing, masks, goggles, and other required materials.

Canada 

Action to support the Sudbury Food Bank – USD 100,000

•     Donation to the Cash for Cans campaign, which is designed to meet the demand for food during the pandemic. Sudbury Food Bank is a central food distributor for 44 food banks and meal suppliers across Greater Sudbury. Currently, these agencies support 8,500 people per month, and this number is expected to grow due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other Actions

Vale has launched the COVID-19 Challenge, which will provide USD 1,000,000 to develop solutions against the disease, including risk monitoring and prevention as well as patient monitoring. Also, there is an Open Challenge category, which covers other topics. Companies, startups, institutions, government, universities, and professionals have been invited to participate.

Mozambique

Actions to support the Mozambican Government – USD 2,000,000.00

•     Hygiene materials, hospital equipment, and personal protective items for health care professionals.

•     Donation of 80 thousand rapid tests.

•     Donation of PPE for the Health area, such as gloves, masks, goggles, boots, safety overalls, and aprons.

•     Donation of hygiene material, including electric sprayers, alcohol for disinfection, and soap bars. 

•     Provision of hospital equipment, such as infusion pumps, sample collection kits, aspirators, and defibrillators.

Other Actions

•     Creation of a 24-hour helpline number designed to share daily information about COVID-19, additionally to the Internal Communication channels, with direct and third-party employees.

Indonesia

Actions to support the Government of the eastern region of Luwu    

• Donation of 10 hospital beds, disinfectant liquid, thermal guns, protective clothing, surgical masks, N95 masks, and rubber gloves. 

•     Donation of 13 hospital beds for isolation rooms at the Burau Community Health Center, two ventilation units for Hospital I Lagaligo, and 13 thermal guns to be used in six control stations under the supervision of GTPP COVID-19 at the eastern region of Luwu.

Actions to support the Provincial Government of South Sulawesi

Donation of 800 N95 masks, 800 surgical masks, 200 rubber gloves, and 100 units of protective clothing for medical teams through the GTPP COVID-19 at South Sulawesi. Donation of an ambulance for a one-year operational period and 1,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as rubber gloves, for the Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital. 

Other Actions

Vale Indonesia Tbk is conducting mass-scale COVID-19 testing among all employees and service providers in its operational areas of Sorowako, East Luwu Regency, and South Sulawesi. It also plans to progressively cover all 3,000 direct employees and almost 7,000 third-party employees. The planning is expected to test almost 500 people every day. At the same time, rapid tests are also being carried out at Bahodopi (Central Sulawesi) and Pomalaa (South Sulawesi).

Malaysia

Actions to support the Government and Ministry of Health of Malaysia – RM 85,000

•     Donation of 20,000 COVID-19 test kits.

•     Donation of RM 25,000 for supplies to the Manjung District and Land Office aiming the creation of new COVID-19 screening centers.

•     Donation of RM 55,000 for the purchase of eight Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) to support the health care at the Manjung Hospital.

•     Donation of RM 5,000 for thermometers and PPE to Manjung immigration officers, who are on the frontlines, supporting the fight against the spread of COVID-19.