Winners of the MTN special malaria “What Do You Know” quiz competition have donated 1,200 Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) to six (6) hospitals across the country.

The competition dubbed “What Do You About Malaria” quiz competition brought together a cross-section of MTN staff to compete amongst themselves on issues of the Malaria disease. At the end of the competition, MTN presented as part of their package 1,200 Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) to the winners to donate to hospitals of their choice.

Albert E. Adjekum, Alhassan Abdul-Fatawu and Andrew Nii Bonney-Quist, all staff of MTN emerged 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the contest organized among six (6) contestants. They have individually selected health facilities from the Central, Northern and Eastern regions as beneficiary institutions of the ITNs. While Albert E. Adjekum donated his 500 ITNs to the Swedru Municipal Hospital and Ahmadiyya Mission Hospital, Alhassan Abdul-Fatawu donated his 400 ITNs prize to the Tamale West and Yendi hospitals. The third winner, Andrew Nii Bonney Quist however donated his 300 ITNs to the Koforidua hospital. They were also given 20 ITNs each to distribute to their family and friends.

The winners thanked MTN for the opportunity given them to also contribute towards the fight against the Malaria disease in the country since the vast majority of malaria deaths occur in sub-saharan Africa. According to them, the contest was an eye-opener as it enabled them to study and for that matter know more about the disease. They advised the beneficiary health facilities to use the nets for the intended purpose.

Mr. Robert Kuzoe, the Executive Secretary of the MTN Ghana Foundation congratulated the winners on their victory. He stated that according to the United Nations, Malaria has been estimated to cost Africa more than US$ 12 billion every year in lost Gross Domestic Product, even though it could be controlled for a fraction of that sum. He identifies public education and awareness as key to the fight against the menace.

Mr. Kuzoe reiterated MTN’s commitment to use every means possible to educate the public about the dangers associated with the disease. He praised the contestants for availing themselves to that responsibility through the “What Do You Know” about Malaria quiz competition.

The competition formed part of the numerous Malaria related projects the staff of the company executed in 2010 as part of the annual Y’ello Care challenge. During the exercise last year, a number of MTN operating countries in Africa including MTN Ghana undertook several Malaria related initiatives towards the realization of the goal of the United Against Malaria (UAM) initiative. MTN’s contribution to this campaign received worldwide recognition including acknowledgement from the United Nations.

The Ghana operating Unit was eventually declared winner of the 2010 Y’ello Care challenge by the MTN Group with a prize of $100,000.00 which is wring-fenced to support new community development initiatives for the year 2011.