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Government and Zimbabwe’s three mobile phone operators have launched a campaign to raise funds towards combating the Ebola disease in Africa. Speaking at a media briefing in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care permanent secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji said Econet, Telecel and NetOne had joined the Africa United Against Ebola campaign by the African Union to raise funds towards combating Ebola in the region.
“The African Union has seen it fit that it leads concerted effort to unite all member states to fight Ebola. They have sought to harness the technology that we have in Africa to help fight Ebola.
“There are many battles that have been won in this current Ebola war; in Senegal, Nigeria and DRC but in the original countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia the outbreaks rage on. This is the source of concern and once abated at the source, we will cease to be at risk of Ebola. As it is, we remain at risk of importation of Ebola cases,” he said.
“The AU has therefore sought to say the various providers of communication can contribute to spread the messages of Ebola and raise resources. Here, Econet, NetOne and Telecel have come on board to fight this common cause.”
Dr Gwinji said as Ebola had no vaccine, the spread of information and raising of funds for surveillance, epidemic detection and response systems to ensure timely detection, swift and effective management of cases would help to control the epidemic.
“The swift action taken by the ICT Ministry to enable our three networks to participate not only on national level, but join hands as companies in the Zimbabwean public sector arena support the Ministry of Health’s efforts and the continent’s wide initiative against a common enemy,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, permanent secretary in the ICT Ministry Engineer Sam Kundishora said his ministry would assist the health sector in its bid to combat Ebola.
“We will provide support to ensure teams of technical experts get the support they require as communication forms a key component. We will strive in connecting the general public with the Government, health institutions, ports of entry and assist in facilitating the public’s donation of at least 20 cents towards fighting Ebola,” he said.
Mobile operators across Africa have also partnered to raise funds towards fighting Ebola with users donating at least 20 cents by sending a message to 7979.
The funds, to be managed by the AU, will be used to, among other things, to acquire protective clothing and in awareness campaigns.
Online Reporter