MTN Launches 2026 Y’ello Care Campaign Focused on Equitable Healthcare Access

MTN Group  has announced the 2026 edition of 21 Days of Y’ello Care, our flagship employee volunteerism campaign, taking place from 1 to 21 June 2026.

Now in its 19th year, Y’ello Care demonstrates the power of employee-led action in driving meaningful impact across the communities we serve. Since its inception, the campaign has mobilised thousands of MTN employees to support initiatives from education and healthcare to youth development and economic empowerment.

Each year, the campaign responds to the most pressing needs of our communities, guided by our purpose of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.

This year’s theme, “Expand Equitable Health for Every Community”, reflects the reality that health is not only a social imperative, but is a foundation for resilience, productivity and stability. It is also fundamental to inclusive economic growth.

This has become more urgent following the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. This strain has no licensed vaccine or specific treatment. The outbreak highlights the need for stronger preparedness and surveillance. It also underscores the requirement for greater community trust and more robust frontline health systems.

“Health risks do not stop at borders. This reminds us that Africa’s future will be shaped by our ability to act together early, decisively, and at scale.”

– Nompilo Morafo, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, MTN Group 

Structural healthcare challenges remain significant across the continent, which carries approximately 25% of the global disease burden but has only 3% of the world’s health workforce. The greatest access gaps are in rural and underserved communities[1], disproportionately affecting women, children and vulnerable populations.

Equitable access to healthcare is critical to enabling full participation in social and economic progress. For MTN, it is also directly linked to expanding dignity and opportunity.

Across MTN’s markets during Y’ello Care 2026, employees and partners will implement practical community-led initiatives to expand access to preventative, primary and responsive healthcare. These interventions will leverage MTN’s connectivity, digital platforms, and partnerships to scale access and strengthen long-term health system resilience.

Among our planned activities are mobile clinics; community outreach programmes; digital health education; telemedicine-enabled services; screening and prevention initiatives; and the use of data and digital tools to enhance service delivery.

Digital technologies – including AI and data analytics – strengthen healthcare systems by improving diagnostics and clinical decision-making, as well as access to care. They can enhance outcomes, improve quality-adjusted life years, and support disease surveillance and outbreak response[2]. At scale, they could unlock US$200–360 billion in global healthcare savings through greater efficiency[3].

“From AI-enabled diagnostics and disease surveillance to telemedicine and data-driven decision-making, digital innovation gives us a powerful opportunity to extend quality healthcare to underserved communities. It also enables improved access, outcomes and system resilience.”

– Nompilo Morafo, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, MTN Group 

Over the past six years, Y’ello Care has reached more than 107 000 people through the efforts of over 14 000 volunteers, contributing over 56 000 hours of community engagement. These build on MTN’s broader contribution to Africa’s progress, including the connectivity and platforms that extend digital and financial inclusion, as well as the investment in infrastructure, technologies and people that support innovation and growth.

For more information about 21 Days of Y’ello Care and MTN’s commitment to social development, please visit MTN Group or follow MTN Group on social media.