Mbabane: As COVID-19 cases continue to surge amid the third wave of infections, MTN Eswatini is launching a new campaign titled, “One More Push”, her contribution to the Covid-19 response, to encourage people across the country to take precautions – correctly wear masks, wash their hands, or sanitize and practice social distancing.
In the past week, the Kingdom of Eswatini recorded over 1 600 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Through this timely campaign, MTN aspires to support prevention efforts, so the country does not slide into a catastrophic disaster, possibly worse than what the country experienced between December 2020 and January 2021, the peak of the second wave of COVID-19 infections.
“One More Push” is a renewed drive to encourage the public to make a ritual of taking precautions. Through the campaign, MTN asks everyone to keep their masks on – when we interact with others, wash – or sanitize our hands, and maintain a physical distance of up to two metres, from each other.
“It is only through these proven ways that we can be safe and support the safety of those around us.”
MTN Eswatini Chief Executive Officer Wandile Mntshali said the campaign comes at a time when people seem to be suffering from increased apathy, mask fatigue, vaccine myths and misinformation, and overall concern about the efficacy and safety of the vaccines.
Mntshali said the campaign is about encouraging Emaswati to remain vigilant in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and support the rollout of the vaccination programme, as the nation moves towards herd immunity.
“At MTN, we always look on the bright side of life. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite its many challenges, we know we will get through it. This optimism is the catalyst for the One More Push campaign,” he further clarified.
A key part of the campaign is onemorepushafrica.com, a digital content hub of credible and authoritative third-party content covering everything you need to know about COVID-19. This includes facts about getting vaccinated, advice from leading healthcare bodies and medical experts, and important information from the Africa Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention.
As the country was still coming to terms with the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, last year, MTN stepped in to encourage the wearing of masks through the “Wear It For Me” campaign. Through this campaign, MTN inspired young people to put others first and wear a mask, by focusing on their innate desire to love, care for, and protect their elders.
The ‘One More Push’ campaign is an extension of the African Union’s “Adapted Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Pandemic”’ endorsed by Africa’s Health Ministers and aligned to the “Prevent, Monitor and Treat” approach. It is also an extension of the partnership between the Africa CDC and MTN Group, which includes the donation of about E371 million (US$25 million) by MTN Group to support the African Union’s COVID-19 vaccination programme.
The donation will secure up to seven million doses for health workers across the continent including Eswatini and contribute greatly to the vaccination initiative of the Africa CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
“We believe the continent and our beloved country is worth pushing for. So, through this campaign, we encourage everyone to keep pushing so that we can go back to our normal lives and all the things we love doing. We implore Emaswati to give it one more push,” said MTN Eswatini CEO.
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