For several months now, COVID-19 has been spreading across the globe. Sub-Saharan Africa, which had been spared until now, is no longer immune.
In these uncertain times, the pandemic is pushing players in all sectors to mobilize and deploy solutions to slow its spread. On the African continent, as elsewhere, initiatives are multiplying to support the measures taken by governments.
In the world of media…
In this period of health crisis, reliable sources of information are crucial for decision-making, awareness-raising, and prevention among populations.
With this in mind, the communications agency 35° Nord, which specializes in Africa, has announced a new partnership with the COVID-19 Africa website. Created by Cédric Moro (major risk consultant) in Senegal, COVID-19 Africa is an interactive map designed to track the evolution and spread of the virus on the African continent. This partnership between the two parties will enable accurate and rapid monitoring of the situation on the continent.
To facilitate access to reliable, high-quality information, the agency has also announced the integration of the online messaging services Telegram and WhatsApp into its online communication system, enabling users to follow all the latest information on the evolution of the pandemic in real time.
(source: press release)
To go further, WhatsApp has also set up an official chatbot to monitor the situation in real time. This new service has been made possible thanks to a partnership with the WHO and the UN. The initiative will also help to curb the proliferation of fake news, which has been rife since the start of the crisis on instant messaging services, which have been in high demand in recent weeks and are widely used in Africa.
The CANAL+ group also supports the measures taken by governments to curb the epidemic. As such, the group has decided to offer access to its programs without subscription on the African continent until April 30. This is a gesture of solidarity for populations forced into lockdown.
In the e-commerce ecosystem…
E-commerce players are also mobilizing.
Jack Ma, founder of the Alibaba Group and a leading figure in the Chinese internet, has announced a series of measures to support African countries in the fight against COVID-19. Led by the Jack Ma Foundation, the measures will primarily provide remote medical assistance to train and support local teams. The foundation also plans to donate medical equipment, including 20,000 screening tests and 100,000 masks for healthcare workers.
In another measure, JUMIA has announced the implementation of actions to support countries. The e-commerce unicorn is making its platform and delivery network available to governments to enable the distribution and delivery of medical supplies to healthcare facilities. The e-commerce platform will also facilitate online purchases to actively combat the spread of the virus. The teams will also ensure access to essential products and basic foodstuffs at affordable prices by partnering with numerous suppliers to protect consumers from potential price increases.