30th August, 2014
The special medical team constituted by the federal and state governments to fight the spread of Ebola Virus Disease has commended Airtel Nigeria for its support and contributions to the ongoing effort against the spread of Ebola.
Airtel Nigeria donated 100 mobile handsets, complimentary airtime for each line and a Closed User Group (CUG) facility to improve overall communication and efficiency of the response.
Speaking shortly after receiving the donations from the Airtel team, technical advisor to Minister of State, Health as well as Incident Manager, Ebola Emergency Operations Centre, Lagos, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said Airtel responded swiftly and showed enthusiasm to support the Ebola centre.
“The phones and other facilities donated by Airtel will be used by response staff in the field to communicate more effectively and efficiently. Additionally, these phones will be given out to EVD patients that need to be in isolation at the hospital.
“The phones will allow these patients to communicate with their families, enabling them to receive the support and encouragement they need to recover from the disease,” he said, noting that, the phones will be destroyed once the patients and workers are out of the centre.
In attendance during the donation were Permanent Secretary/Board Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Oguntimehin Olukayode; Prof. Oni Idigbo, member, Emergency Operations Center; WHO Ebola Team Lead, Dr. Musa Emmanuel; Co-founder/Dir. eHealth Africa, Adam Thompson; Dir., Health Planning, Research & Statistics, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Ansa Ogu; Ebola Team Lead, Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), John Vertecenille and Incoming Team Lead, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Nancy Knight.
Airtel Nigeria was represented by Chinda Manjor, CSR Manager and Erhumu Bayagbon, Media Relations Manager.
The Ebola team in Lagos which comprises federal and state governments health officials, personnel from the World Health Organisation (WHO), experienced medical personnel from Nigeria Center for Disease Control & Prevention (NCDC) and other partner agencies.