“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,” says Ralph Mupita, President and Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group.
“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 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,” says Dr John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC.
Since the start of the pandemic, MTN has been helping to limit the spread of the virus and save lives and sources of income in its African market. This donation is another example of MTN’s efforts to help find lasting solutions to address the challenges facing the continent and ensure 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 programme,” concludes Mupita. “In the coming months, MTN Group will look at similar support commitments for the markets in which we operate in the Middle East.”
The announcement comes as on January 14, 2021, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, also president of the African Union, announced that the African Union had obtained 270 million interim doses of COVID-19 vaccine on behalf of the members of its state, thanks to advance purchase commitment guarantees of up to $ 2 billion from manufacturers by the African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank.
By Jephté TCHEMEDIE
