MTN Foundation, within the context   of its Y’ello Hope initiative, will provide protective equipment to some of the most exposed communities across the 10 regions of Cameroon.

Douala, 01 June 2020.  MTN Foundation, first corporate foundation created in Cameroon, announces the launch of an initiative dubbed ”Y’ello Hope” to enhance MTN’s contribution to the national response against the spread of Covid-19. The announcement was made to the press on Friday, 29 May 2020 at an unprecedented digital press conference in Cameroon, where MTN Foundation officials, journalists and bloggers from Yaounde and Douala were able to interact in strict compliance with the barrier measures.

The activities of the Y’ello Hope initiative will be deployed in the form of a caravan that will cover all the 10 regions of Cameroon, for 21 days, starting Monday 1 June 2020, in lieu of the 21 Days of Y’ello Care, traditional volunteer programme by MTN employees,  suspended this year due to the restrictive measures imposed by the coronavirus health crisis.

The Y’ello Hope caravan will provide protective equipment to some of the most vulnerable communities notably medical staff, teachers, municipality employees, call-box operators, media professionals, etc. Members of these communities will receive, among other things, disinfection equipment, approved and washable face masks, hydro-alcoholic solutions as well as other medical equipment.

In prelude to the launch of the caravan proper, MTN Foundation organised a digital awareness concert on Saturday 30 May 2020, in association with the Stanley Enow Foundation. In addition to the world-class artist Stanley Enow, other renowned Cameroonian artists such as Tenor, Locko and Salatiel took to the stage to deliver awareness messages and bring comfort to the people.

“Pending the discovery and availability of a vaccine, compliance with barrier measures remains the best solution to stop the spread of the virus. MTN Foundation wishes to contribute to this, by enabling thousands of Cameroonians to protect themselves and others,” says Jean-Melvin Akam, Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus health crisis in Cameroon, MTN has been at the forefront of the national response plan. Notably, the company has contributed significantly to the intensification of awareness campaigns. MTN Cameroon’s network, technologies and digital platforms have been made available to the Ministry of Public Health to disseminate prevention and awareness messages on the MTN network. Nearly 350 million awareness SMS messages have been sent to MTN subscribers since March.

MTN Cameroon also facilitates communication for health personnel involved in operations to combat the spread of Covid-19. Three hours of free communication are thus offered every day to nurses, doctors, laboratory workers, hygiene and cleanliness personnel involved in the fight against coronavirus according to the lists transmitted by the Ministry of Public Health.

At the same time, the company has suspended fees on MTN Mobile Money transactions; MTN Cameroon provides pupils and students free access to online educational resources; the company reinforces the skills of entrepreneurs, free of charge, in these difficult times; it offers  the vast majority of its staff  the opportunity to work remotely, and  has adapted several of its offers to the needs of users in confinement. These are all measures that help reduce travel, curb the use of cash, lessen contact and overall, limit the risk of spreading the virus.

“We are living a critical moment in the life of humanity which requires active solidarity. Solidarity has always been part of MTN’s identity. In the specific case of Covid-19, at MTN, we have the deep conviction that, together we can succeed. The Y’ello Hope initiative is our way of bringing ourselves together including Cameroonian communities, and managing this crisis together,” concludes the Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation.