Orange Sierra Leone (SL), the country’s leading telecoms company, has made and is still making worthwhile contribution to the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) fight.
As usual, during epidemics, all business entities in Sierra Leone contribute either financially or materially to the state coffers so that the authorities can adequately respond to the health threat.
By all indications, Orange SL is one of the business entities taking the lead to defeat COVID-19. The company’s contributions tracked down in this article stand as a glowing testimony.
Since COVID-19 broke out in China sometime in November, last year, Sierra Leone Government embarked on proactive or preventive measures to forestall a COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
By its commitment to the fight, it is no gainsaying that Orange SL was proactively planning with government hands in glove to ensure a safe Sierra Leone.
Since information is crucial to the prevention of the virus, Orange SL came up with an information sharing strategy of zero-rating URL links.
The strategy works well as it enhances access to messages of Prevention of COVID-19.
Being relentless and poised to see COVID-19 defeated, In March this year, Orange SL donated personal protective equipment to the people of Constituency 112 in the Western Area Rural district which hosts the telecoms company headquarters.
The Member of Parliament, Hon. Haja Miatta Amara who represented the constituency in parliament received the items on behalf of her people.
In the same month, the telecoms company also bolstered the effort of government through the donation of hand washing materials to the people of constituency 128 in the west of the capital including Wilberforce, Tengbeh Town and Hill Station.
The donated materials including veronica buckets, hand sanitisers, soap, gloves and other protective gears meant to be used by residents in the constituency.
The donations were a direct response to requests made by parliamentarians of the two constituencies, Hon Haja Miatta and Hon. Benjamin Turay.
On 2nd April, this year, almost three weeks ago, Orange SL launched the WANPOT package for ease of communication throughout Sierra Leone.
The WANPOT package combines prepaid and post-paid features that give customers a monthly bundle of a fixed price with abundant data allowance.
The offer has a price tag as low as Le150, 000 so that customers could have abundant voice minutes for local and international calls, data and SMS.
The product targets specifically corporate institutions, businesses and high profile individuals.
The new product, according to Orange SL, proffers solutions to most of the issues that the traditional post-paid service could not solve.
With the new offer, customers can control their flow with the flexibility of recharging as and when necessary or when monthly limit is exhausted at the comfort of one’s home.
On 16th April this year, Orange SL launches free on-line studies for pupils and students in secondary schools and universities.
The free on-line programme is expected to commence soon countrywide.
When implemented, pupils and students can access teaching and lecturing programmes on-line free of cost.
Under the free on-line studies, schools and colleges can also enjoy free browsing on several learning sites such as the Ministry of Basic and Senior School Education (MBSSE) on-line classroom, Wikipedia, Khan Academy Open2Study and many more.
Pupils and students can also visit http://www.orange.sl/personal/1/101/orange -education-2986.html and other additional links without paying for the services.
The provision of the on-line services is made possible through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Orange SL and MBSSE to offer zero-rated education portals to schools and colleges country-wide in the COVID-19 period.
The leading telecoms company has also established a healthy and direct relationship with the Ministry of Information and communication (MOIC) to intensify the campaign against COVID-19.
Also, the company, in collaboration with MOIC, is undertaking an intensive and robust sensitisation on the prevention of the deadly virus.
Towards that direction, the company has zero rated the following sites: MOIC-http://www.mic.gov.sl, World Health Organisation-https://www.who.int/ and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention-https://www.cdc.gov./.
With the availability of these facilities, the clientele can get free access to adequate and accurate information on the precautionary measures against COVID-19.
The free on-line service comes in the wake of shutting down of schools and universities by government as measures to neutralise of COVID-19.
It is also a show of solidarity with the government and a way of consolidating education throughout the country.
The signing ceremony also strengthens an already existing relationship between Orange SL and government in this critical moment the country faces.
In the face of Orange SL’s multifaceted contributions to the campaign against COVID-19, the company has also ensured that its products and services including Sim cards, scratch cards, Orange Money services, voice and SMS, among others are always available.
The company has also enhanced its office’s hygiene condition by way of sanitising its surfaces considering the highly contagious nature of the virus.
Besides, plans are underway to provide hand washing facilities and digital temperature readers in public places as effective and efficient preventive measures against the virus.
Similarly, queues at Orange SL offices are being reduced to their barest minimum and that the clientele can access services in a virus-free zone.
Corona Virus Disease has become the most tragic in the world’s modern history. Since its outbreak, it has taken a death toll of over a 100,000 population. Over 1,000,000 people globally are responding to medical services in treatment centres while others are in quarantine facilities.
Sierra Leone recorded its first case in March this year after her neighbours; Guinea and Liberia recorded over 200 cases in combined total.
Currently, the country has recorded its 30TH case while over 500 are in quarantine facilities. Some of the COVID-19 infected persons have been discharged safe and sound while others are recovering.
However, Sierra Leone is not yet out of the wounds.
Consequently, President Julius Maada Bio is calling on well-wishers and philanthropists at home and abroad as well as business entities to join the COVID-19 fight.
It is hoped that with utmost cooperation and unity, the COVID-19 would be a thing of the past.
Thus, Orange SL, arguably, is the first business entity to respond to the President’s call.
The telecoms company is entreating the public to be cautious and adherent to government directives and health guidelines to prevent further spread of the virus in Sierra Leone.
Considering that the company cares, it has repeatedly called on Sierra Leoneans to call 117 if COVID-19 signs and symptoms are seen and felt.
It is also hoped that the lives of millions of people in Sierra Leone could be saved with the compliance of such messages.
Orange SL is poised to do more until COVID-19 is defeated so that life returns to normalcy.