MTN donates US$25m to support AU’s COVID-19 vaccination program

MTN, Africa’s leading mobile network, in a unique public-private partnership, has announced a donation of US$25 million to support the African Union’s COVID-19 vaccination program.

The donation will help secure up to seven million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for health workers across the continent. This will contribute to the vaccination initiative of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a specialized technical institution of the African Union that strengthens the capacity and capability of Africa’s public health institutions as well as partnerships

“The devastating impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and profound. Public and private partnerships are needed if we are to succeed in the fight against the pandemic and restore social and economic norms for our continent and our communities” .

Ralph Mupita, President and Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group.

On January 14, 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairperson of the African Union, announced that the African Union had secured a provisional 270 million COVID-19 vaccine doses on behalf of its Member States, through advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to US$2 billion to the manufacturers by the African Export-Import Bank.

This was a remarkable milestone in efforts to ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine for Africa’s people. However, with a population of about 1.3 billion, Africa requires many more doses to achieve at least 60 percent herd immunity. Contributions by private organizations, like MTN, are therefore essential to help the continent reach its target.

“Our goal is to ensure that all those who need the COVID-19 vaccine have access to it very quickly, but the biggest hurdle in Africa has been the financing of the vaccines, and the logistics of vaccinating at scale. We, therefore, welcome the right partnerships, like the one with MTN, to achieve our minimum 60 percent vaccination target” .

Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, MTN has made significant contributions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and save lives and livelihoods within its African market. This donation is another example of MTN’s efforts to help find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the continent and to guarantee a healthy Africa, for all Africans.

“We believe ongoing collaborations with key stakeholders across sectors are essential as vaccines are deployed in all our markets, with communication tools, technology, and digital services being vital support infrastructure for a successful mass vaccination program. In the coming months, MTN Group will look at similar support commitments for the markets in which we operate in the Middle East” .

Mupita

In a related development, the Rockefeller Foundation, an organization that uses science, data, and innovation to solve global challenges related to health, food, power, and economic mobility, has also announced a new grant of US$12 million to the Africa Public Health Foundation to help expand the geographic coverage of testing and to strengthen contact tracing for COVID-19 in Africa through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

“Equitable access to testing and tracing is essential to rapidly identify and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks until a vaccine is widely available to all. One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, too many people still do not have access to the tools that they need to keep themselves, their families, and their communities healthy and safe.

“We’re pleased to work with the Africa Public Health Foundation and Africa CDC to catalyze a more efficient and inclusive response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic across the continent “.

Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation

This funding will support a broader effort to accelerate equitable access to testing technologies, increase testing of asymptomatic persons, and reducing community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the sub-Saharan Africa region.