Olam helps raise awareness against Ebola

LONDON, UK - OLAM International Limited made a donation of US$250,000 to help fight Ebola.  The global agri-business company with investments in Africa, aims to increase education and awareness-raising efforts across its African processing units, plantations and smallholder operations. It will contribute $200,000 to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and $50,000 will be given to the World Cocoa Foundation, which will be making donations to the International Federation of Red Cross, the Red Crescent Societies and Caritas on behalf of the global cocoa industry.

Over the past months, Olam has been working across Africa with health agencies and governments to educate over 9,000 employees, as well as its smallholder networks about Ebola prevention, identification, and treatment. The Company has also implemented health screening for its workforce in Nigeria, the only country currently affected where Olam has a direct presence.

Sunny Verghese, Olam’s Group managing director and CEO, said today’s announcement reinforces Olam’s commitment in the fight against Ebola.

“The courage of the doctors and nurses working on the front line is an inspiration to every one of us.  But this epidemic will not end without getting far more medical boots and experience on the ground.

“As an agri-business founded in Nigeria 25 years ago, we would not be where we are today – which includes 25 African countries – without the communities in which we operate. They in turn rely on Olam for their livelihoods. We are thankful that they have remained unaffected but our commitment to the continent goes beyond our own boundaries.”