MONROVIA, March 27 (LINA) – Orange GSM-Liberia and Lonestar Cell MTN have made separate donations of mobile phones to the Office of Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor.
Triggered by a special request by the Vice President to the two GSM companies, the phones have been turned over to health authorities in Liberia for use by contact tracers to help in the fight against the coronavirus.
According to a press release from the office of the VP, Orange GSM Liberia and Lonestar Cell MTN each donated 500 pieces of phones, totaling 1,000 pieces.
Madam Uche Ofodile, Chief Executive Officer of Lonestar Cell MTN Liberia, and Supu H.W. Cole Sr, Director for Governmental Legal & Regulatory Affairs of Orange Liberia, graced the occasion and separately presented the phones.
During the donations Tuesday, March 24, the two companies said the gifts represent their initial contributions towards the fight against COVID-19.
Hailing the Government for measures put in place so far to contain the virus, the heads of the two companies said the donations form part of their social corporate responsibility to the citizenry.
Receiving the phones on behalf of the Vice President, her Chief of Office Staff, Mr. George T. Nimely, thanked the two companies for the timely intervention.
He called on other corporate institutions in country to follow suit.
Mr. Nimely, who identified contact tracing as a major component in the fight against the virus, noted that the phones donated are very crucial to the ongoing efforts to curb the spread of the virus.
Deputy Health Minister for Administration, Norwu Howard, who received the donation from the Office of the VP, conveyed Government’s gratitude to the two GSM companies, assuring that the phones will be used for the intended purpose.
According to Madam Howard, the phones are to be turned over to the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), the government agency driving the fight against the deadly virus.
LINA PR/FLK/PTK
