By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
MTN Eswatini has been named
the overall winner of the 2026 Y’ello Care Awards for the fifth time, after
extending a medical drone network to a remote clinic in partnership with the
Luke Commission, cutting medicine delivery times from up to four hours by road
to as little as 30 minutes.
The awards were presented
during MTN Group’s annual Ambassadors’ Appreciation Dinner in Sandton, attended
by South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly
Malatsi, alongside ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives of
development institutions and international organisations from across MTN’s
markets.
The awards recognised
colleagues and teams who worked alongside health ministries, health workers and
communities during this year’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care, held from 1 to 21 June
under the theme “Expanding Equitable Health for Every Community”.
A total of 6,384 MTNers from
MTN’s operating companies, MoMo and Bayobab, the Group’s digital infrastructure
business, contributed more than 50,000 volunteer hours to healthcare
initiatives that reached more than 400,000 people.
Welcoming guests, MTN Group
President and CEO Ralph Mupita said the Group’s success had always been
intertwined with that of the countries and communities it serves.
“A year ago, I said the time
was now for Africa to take charge of its own socioeconomic progress. I believe
that more firmly today,” said Mupita. “Progress is built through partnership.
For your partnership, we sincerely thank you.”
Since 2007, Y’ello Care has
seen MTN employees contribute their time, skills and care to communities across
the Group’s markets. This year’s campaign focused on healthcare amid
disparities in access to health services and staffing across the continent.
According to Africa CDC and
McKinsey, Africa carries about a quarter of the global disease burden but only
3% of the world’s health workforce, with the gaps widest in rural and
underserved communities.
Winning teams were joined on
stage by representatives of their diplomatic missions in recognition of the
partnerships that supported their work. Fourteen awards were presented, with
every participating operating company and platform business recognised.
MTN Group Chief
Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer Nompilo Morafo said the strongest
initiatives went beyond once-off support by listening to communities, working
alongside governments and development partners, and strengthening existing
health systems.
“Expanding access to
healthcare is not only a health imperative; it is essential to education,
skills development, inclusion and sustainable growth,” said Morafo. “I am
deeply grateful to every MTNer who gave their time and skills, and to the
health workers, governments and communities who made this work possible. These
awards recognise what they achieved together.”
