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(Alliance News) - Vodafone Group PLC's Vodacom Group Ltd will support Covid-19 vaccinations in up to 55 countries, the telecommunications company announced on Monday.
Vodacom Group will partner with the African Union Development Agency to build digital infrastructure to manage vaccinations, called mVacciNation.This follows successful deployments in South Africa, where Vodacom is based, to manage Covid-19 vaccinations as well as in Mozambique, Tanzania and Nigeria to manage infant inoculations.
The roll-out of mVacciNation is the first project in a public-private partnership between Vodacom and AUDA.
The project and will aim to boost Africa's technological post-Covid-19 development.
The mVacciNation digital toolbox is a mobile technology platform that manages vaccination appointments and stock availability, aiming to improve the vaccine roll-out.
Berkshire, England-based Vodafone is a telecommunications company, which owns a 65% stake in Johannesburg-based Vodacom.
The news comes after Vodafone Foundation and Vodacom announced earlier in the month the donation of EUR4.2 million, or ZAR74 million, to support vaccine roll-outs across the African continent.
"Vodacom has been at the forefront of helping governments where we operate to curb the spread of Covid-19," said Vodacom Chief Executive Shameel Joosub.
"Making our mVacciNation platform available to all African countries will significantly enhance the continent's digital health infrastructure for the long-term. Our contribution will improve the capability of African countries in this pandemic and beyond for vaccine distribution, management and surveillance, even in resource-constrained settings."
AUDA Chief Executive Ibrahim Mayaki added: "The response to the Covid-19 crisis has significantly accelerated the adoption of frontier technologies. Africa's booming digital sector offers great opportunities for public-private partnerships to help build resilience in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis and respond to critical continental priorities. "
Vodacom shares were down 0.1% at ZAR127.17 each in Johannesburg on Monday, while Vodafone shares were 0.1% lower at 135.09 pence in London.
By Will Paige; willpaige@alliancenews.com
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