MTN Group will roll out the 2026 edition of its annual employee volunteerism campaign, Y’ello Care, with a focus on expanding healthcare access across underserved communities in Africa as the continent confronts persistent health system challenges and a fresh Ebola outbreak in parts of East and Central Africa.
The campaign, which runs from June 1 to June 21, marks the 19th year of MTN’s flagship corporate volunteer initiative and will mobilize employees across the telecom operator’s markets to support community healthcare interventions.
This year’s campaign is themed “Expand Equitable Health for Every Community,” reflecting what the company described as the growing link between healthcare access, economic resilience, and inclusive growth.
The initiative comes as Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo battle outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a variant for which there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment.
“Health risks do not stop at borders. This reminds us that Africa’s future will be shaped by our ability to act together early, decisively, and at scale,” MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Nompilo Morafo said.
Africa continues to face significant healthcare capacity constraints, carrying about 25% of the global disease burden while accounting for only 3% of the world’s health workforce, according to figures cited by MTN.
The company said healthcare access gaps remain most severe in rural and underserved communities, disproportionately affecting women, children, and vulnerable populations.
MTN plans to deploy a range of healthcare initiatives during the campaign, including mobile clinics, community outreach programs, digital health education, telemedicine services, screening and prevention campaigns, and data-driven health interventions.
The company said digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, could improve diagnostics, disease surveillance, clinical decision-making, and healthcare delivery efficiency.
“From AI-enabled diagnostics and disease surveillance to telemedicine and data-driven decision-making, digital innovation gives us a powerful opportunity to extend quality healthcare to underserved communities,” Morafo said. “It also enables improved access, outcomes, and system resilience.”
MTN said the use of digital health technologies could contribute to between $200 billion and $360 billion in global healthcare savings through greater efficiency gains.
The telecom operator said Y’ello Care has reached more than 107,000 people over the past six years through the participation of over 14,000 employee volunteers, who contributed more than 56,000 hours of community service.
The campaign forms part of MTN’s broader sustainability and digital inclusion strategy as the company expands connectivity, financial technology services, and digital infrastructure across African markets.
