Cryptocurrency company Binance has pledged $250,000 to support efforts to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The funding will be shared equally between the Uganda Red Cross Society and Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), to support emergency response activities in affected and high-risk communities.
The money will help fund medical care, community awareness campaigns, contact tracing, sanitation supplies and protective equipment for frontline health workers responding to the outbreak.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has placed additional strain on health systems in eastern DRC and neighbouring countries. Health authorities and humanitarian agencies have intensified efforts to contain transmission and prevent the disease from spreading further.
Binance said part of the funding will be directed toward underserved communities where access to health services, protective equipment and public health information remains limited.
“Communities across Africa continue to show extraordinary resilience in the face of complex challenges, but frontline responders should not have to face crises like this alone,” said Richard Teng, co-CEO of Binance. “The teams working to contain the Ebola outbreak are delivering life-saving support under incredibly difficult conditions.”
Robert Kwesiga, secretary general of the Uganda Red Cross Society, welcomed the contribution, saying strong partnerships are critical during public health emergencies.
“The support from Binance comes at a crucial time and will help us respond more rapidly, reach more at-risk communities and reinforce frontline services needed to contain the outbreak and save lives,” he said.
MSF also highlighted the urgency of the response.
“The number of cases and deaths we are seeing in such a short timeframe, combined with spread across several health zones and now across borders, is extremely concerning,” said Trish Newport, MSF emergency programme manager. “In Ituri, many people already struggle to access healthcare and live with ongoing insecurity, making rapid action critical.”
The donation is part of Binance’s broader efforts to support communities in Africa through initiatives focused on education, digital skills and financial inclusion. The company said it hopes the contribution will strengthen ongoing humanitarian and public health efforts aimed at reducing transmission and protecting vulnerable populations.
