Ebola: Telecom Giant Unveils Code Against Disease

In its bid to support global efforts aimed at stamping out Ebola in West Africa, telecoms operator, Airtel Nigeria, has announced a new SMS short code, 7979, that will help raise funds and drive awareness for the initiative.

Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, said the telecoms firm had partnered with the African Union towards this end.

He said the initiative, operating under the hash tag #AfricaAgainstEbola, would use the 7979 dedicated platform to raise funds for the deployment of African health workers to affected countries.

He said in order to support the initiative, Airtel customers are encouraged to send ‘StopEbola’ as an SMS to 7979 at N100 per SMS.

“As a major stakeholder with operations in 17 African countries, we are intensely interested in the communities and people we serve, just as we are passionate about creating platforms to uplift the less privileged.

“This partnership with AU provides a fine opportunity for all of us at Airtel Nigeria to join in kicking Ebola out of Africa. We are committed to the partnership with the African Union on this initiative, as it is in sync with our corporate social responsibility strategy of touching and saving lives.

“All monies realised from the SMS campaign will be donated in full to the AU Fund that has been set up to kick Ebola out of Africa,” Ogunsanya said.

The CEO had earlier donated mobile phones, sim cards and airtime to all the 290 Nigerian doctors, nurses and other care-givers who have volunteered to join the fight against Ebola.

He urged other private organisations to emulate Airtel in the effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against the disease that has claimed over 9,637 lives across West Africa

Culled from The Punch.