Facebook’s New Plan Will Allow Users Contribute Towards Fighting Ebola

Editor Business, Pharma & Healthcare

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VENTURES AFRICA – Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s CEO, is keen to exploit the interactive social platform to aid the fight against Ebola, the deadly viral disease that has wrecked rural societies in West Africa and slowed economic progress.
His latest plan sees him reach out to its 1.3 billion users to join the fight against the deadly Ebola virus. Zuckerberg said Facebook will publish a donate button across the top of its users’ feeds, through which they can donate any amount of their choice. This is part of the company’s effort to suppress the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
The button allows user direct funds to three charities; The International Medical Corps, The American Red Cross and Save the Children.
Naomi Gleit, Facebook’s VP of Product Management said
the news will be shared with other users in a bid to spread the word.
In addition to the innovative cause, the company is donating 100 wireless hotspots to areas in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to provide voice and data services. It is also using ad technology to educate people on Ebola.
Users in affected areas will see explanatory messages from UNICEF, a United Nations relief organisation, as part of an educational push, says Gleit.
Over 100 million people in Africa use Facebook every month. Facebook therefore intends to partake in such efforts more often to deepen its presence and ensure it affords local users its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) duties.