Vodafone has made a $500,000 contribution, with Vodacom and Safaricom – both Vodafone affiliates in Kenya – each donating $250,000.
“There is an urgent need to act fast to provide medical attention for people in the hardest-hit areas of west Africa,” said Andrew Dunnett, director at the Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone’s philanthropic arm.
“The African Union’s appeal is bringing together companies with a presence all over Africa to provide much-needed, immediate medical support, while mobile technology – the most powerful communications platform across Africa – will provide a means for further fundraising to help fight the Ebola outbreak.”
The Vodafone HealthLine programme is working to increase capacity following the surge in calls for help regarding Ebola symptoms, while Médecins Sans Frontières is helping with the supply of medical support and training.
The operators are also using mobile technology to raise funds in other countries where they are operational via a partnership with the African Union which allows customers to donate via SMS.
