Vodafone Ghana and Kirusa have announced the launch of ‘Ebola Public Health Project’.
The initiative is part of Vodafone’s Ghana Foundation’s ‘Mobile for Good’ initiative, and uses Kirusa’s platform to disseminate content on the Ebola outbreak to Vodafone subscribers for free.
The project, which commenced in November 2014, is expected to run up to April 2015. Kirusa’s platform will also support incoming calls from outside the network as well as international sources to retrieve the same content, which will also be refreshed weekly.
Vodafone Ghana Foundation’s Head of Sustainability Nana Yaa Afriyie Ofori-Koree said: “Mobile for Good is one of our integral projects to support various organisations that are using mobile technology to solve socio-economic challenges across the country. The Ebola epidemic has taken a huge toll in West Africa. This is our endeavour to spread awareness amongst our countrymen and make Ghana an Ebola-free country.”
Vodafone Ghana Foundation’s ‘Mobile for Good’ initiative empowers Ghanaians to deploy mobile technology in a way that impacts the lives of ordinary people, socially and economically. At the launch, seven applicants were awarded funds between GH¢50,000 and GH¢100,000 to pilot their technology projects and demonstrate its impact on Ghanaians. The selected projects are diverse in concept, covering issues such as maternal health, HIV/AIDS, literacy, e-learning, blood donation and challenges with the emergency services.
Inderpal Singh Mumick, Chief Executive Officer of Kirusa, said, “We believe that through this project, knowledge about Ebola and its avoidance will be enhanced to a great extent, hopefully saving many lives.”
