WeChat is taking up the fight against Ebola by offering the latest news and information to its community, while also supporting major global aid organisations.
The company says the Ebola virus is a worldwide health crisis, exacerbated by the lack of immediate information, access to support and the ability to act.
The first reported case in the Ebola outbreak was recorded in December 2013 in Guinea near the border with Liberia and Sierra Leone. By the end of June 2014, 759 people had been infected with the disease, 467 of whom had died.
According to the World Health Organisation, by 4 January, 20 747 cases and 8 235 deaths had been reported worldwide. Nonetheless, there have been reports of the rate infections currently stabilising in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
WeChat Africa says it saw an opportunity for its social communications platform to support the fight against Ebola, as the platform offers a central point of control.
The WeChat Ebola24 Official Account (OA) was created and is available in English and French. The OA is a repository of information and support for not only the inhabitants of affected areas, but also for anyone wanting to know more about the crisis.
Endorsed by the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and with content from Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), it covers topics like treatment, concerns, news, symptoms, prevention and success stories. With immediate access to doctors and the ability to find the nearest clinic through the OA, Ebola24 is fighting Ebola both online and off.
Vice-president for Global Health Strategy at the UNF, Kate Dodson, is pleased to be collaborating with WeChat on Ebola24. By the third quarter of 2014, WeChat boasted over 460 million users, most of them based in China.
"In the midst of the worst Ebola outbreak the world has ever seen, information is one of the most powerful tools we have to fight the spread of this devastating disease. WeChat's Ebola24 OA makes essential information easily accessible to the people who need it most."
As well as being better informed, users can take action and be part of the solution by signing a petition started by ONE.org, which can be found within the OA, WeChat says.
International Digital Director at ONE.org, David Cole, explains the organisation feels the world waited too long to respond to Ebola.
"Every day we continue to wait - for funding to reach the ground, for nurses and doctors to be deployed, for the shattered medical services to be rebuilt - more people die. With the ONE campaign, we're working to ensure governments do their part by encouraging citizens around the world to sign our petition.
"Working with WeChat and Ebola24 has enabled us to reach a whole new audience across Africa, one we would otherwise not have been able to contact. With WeChat's support we hope to put even more pressure on leaders to make and deliver bold commitments and help end the Ebola epidemic."
In addition to the petition, there is a "donate" button, which redirects users so they can donate to the UNF or MSF's efforts to curb Ebola. WeChat doesn't collect these donations, but acts as a way for concerned people to get in touch with the organisations working against the epidemic.
"The MSF has been working to fight the spread of Ebola and bring care to thousands of people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia since March 2014," says Borrie la Grange, head of communications at MSF SA.
"As Africans, we've taken a very strong interest in following developments closely, while trying hard to make a concrete difference that saves lives, borne from deep solidarity with people facing the crisis. We feel the Ebola24 OA puts information about the epidemic in the hands of fellow Africans and enables them to support the fight against Ebola."
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