MTN launches its 2026 Y’ello Care Health Drive to expand healthcare access across Africa through volunteer-led community projects

MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Nompilo Morafo, on Friday announced the launch of the 2026 MTN 2026 Y’ello Care Health Drive in Johannesburg, South Africa, unveiling a continent-wide employee volunteer programme aimed at expanding equitable healthcare access across underserved communities in Africa.

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The initiative, scheduled to run from 1 June to 21 June 2026, marks the 19th edition of MTN’s annual “21 Days of Y’ello Care” campaign, which mobilises staff across the telecommunications group to deliver community-based projects in education, healthcare, youth development and economic empowerment.

This year’s edition places a sharp focus on health equity under the theme “Expand Equitable Health for Every Community”, reflecting growing concerns over infectious disease outbreaks, including recent Ebola cases reported in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Speaking on the initiative, Morafo said Africa’s health challenges demand urgent collaboration and sustained action, stressing that cross-border cooperation is essential to strengthening health systems.

“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,” Morafo said.

The MTN 2026 Y’ello Care Health Drive will see employees and partners roll out a range of interventions, including mobile clinics, community health outreach, telemedicine services, digital health education, screening programmes and preventive care initiatives.

The company also highlighted the growing role of digital tools such as artificial intelligence and data analytics in improving diagnostics and disease surveillance across rural and underserved areas.

MTN Group said more than 14,000 volunteers have participated in the campaign over the past six years, contributing over 56,000 hours of service and reaching more than 107,000 beneficiaries across the continent.

Alongside the main programme, the MTN Foundation also announced the opening of nominations for its 2026 “What Can We Do Together” initiative, which targets improvements in public primary healthcare centres and secondary school science laboratories across Nigeria.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Jamiu Alli-Balogun, described the foundation’s approach as community-driven and transparent, noting that interventions are shaped by local needs and participation.

MTN Foundation officials said the programme is designed to strengthen social infrastructure through partnerships, with Executive Director Odunayo Sanya noting that investments in education and healthcare remain central to national development priorities.

Since its inception, the foundation said it has committed over N4 billion to social infrastructure projects, including the upgrade of more than 180 primary healthcare centres and over 110 science laboratories across 623 communities in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

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The nomination window for the 2026 cycle opened on 5 May and will close on 8 June, with submissions accepted via MTN’s official website or SMS.