Airtel Uganda, a leading telecommunications company has showcased its dedication to enhancing the quality of the population by hosting a meeting with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Uganda Country Representative, Dr. Mary Otieno, and her team. During the meeting, Airtel Uganda’s Managing Director, Mr. Manoj Murali, discussed potential areas of collaboration with the UNFPA to promote population development.
Mr. Murali outlined Airtel Uganda’s “Transforming lives” initiatives, focusing on various intervention areas such as digital and financial inclusion. These initiatives reflect Airtel’s commitment to improving the well-being of the population in Uganda. Notably, Airtel Uganda has joined forces with UNICEF Uganda in a five-year partnership aimed at expanding digital learning opportunities, particularly for young learners in rural areas. Additionally, Airtel Uganda is providing internet access to 14 public libraries nationwide to support ICT training for out-of-school youths.
In the realm of health financing, Airtel introduced a medical insurance product called Airtel Hospital Sente. Through a partnership with Prudential, this product offers affordable medical coverage to an increasing number of Ugandans, with premiums starting as low as 1000 UGX.
Furthermore Airtel has also collaborated with banks to encourage customers to save money in their mobile wallets, providing competitive interest rates. These financial products contribute to the country’s transition towards digital and financial inclusion.
Airtel Uganda’s flagship partnership with Buganda plays a crucial role in allocating resources to combat diseases such as sickle cell, fistula, and HIV/AIDS. The annual Kabaka birthday run, recognized as the largest in Africa, mobilizes the public to raise awareness about public health challenges and promote behavioural change.
Mr. Murali emphasized that Airtel’s expansive distribution infrastructure, comprising over 90 large-format service centers, 3000 small-format stores, and more than 250,000 agents, has created economic opportunities, particularly for women.
Expressing gratitude for Airtel Uganda’s investments in increasing access to digital and financial services, Dr. Mary Otieno, the UNFPA Uganda Country Representative, highlighted the organization’s mandate to strengthen reproductive health systems. The UNFPA aims to ensure that every pregnancy is desired and planned while working towards eliminating preventable maternal deaths. Dr. Otieno explained that UNFPA Uganda engages with innovators to develop solutions that enhance population quality. One such solution is Drug-Dash, supported by UNFPA, which facilitates real-time monitoring and distribution of contraceptives and other reproductive health consumables in specific districts, significantly improving service delivery.
Dr. Otieno reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to supporting the government and partners in various areas, including census, vital registrations, maternal health, and innovation for reproductive health improvement. She invited Airtel Uganda to forge a partnership that would strengthen the delivery of transformative agendas throughout the country.
This meeting between Airtel Uganda and UNFPA Uganda signifies a collaborative effort to address critical population challenges and enhance the well-being of Ugandans. The partnership aims to leverage Airtel’s resources and expertise in digital and financial inclusion to support UNFPA’s mission of improving reproductive health systems and promoting a higher quality of life for the population.
