Zambia's two large mobile phone operators MTN and Airtel have joined hands to launch a campaign to raise funds for a 'unite against Ebola' initiative.

The initiative is operating under the hash tag #AfricaAgainstEbola and will use an SMS dedicated platform to raise funds for the deployment of African health workers to the affected countries.

Mobile phone operators across the continent are partnering with the African Union (AU) Commission to support the fight against Ebola in West Africa.

MTN and Airtel have since invited their over 9 million customers across the country to join hands with the operators in the campaign.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), this is the largest outbreak in the continent.

The AU is fighting the Ebola outbreak under its African Union Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) mission, which has so far deployed 99 health workers to the three affected countries.

As part of the pledge, MTN and Airtel are now inviting customers to participate in an SMS campaign to donate a minimum of K2.00 (R4).

Airtel Network Zambia managing director Charity Lumpa said in a statement that the epidemic has claimed over 7, 000 lives across parts of West Africa since it was first reported in Guinea in March this year and that the collaboration of mobile service provider was a milestone.

"Customers are asked to text 'Stop Ebola' to the short code 7979 in order to donate. Mobile phone companies from 41 countries across the continent are participating in this campaign," Lumpa said.

MTN Zambia chief executive officer Abdul Ismail said, "MTN Zambia is supporting this campaign to give further impetus to concerted efforts aimed at combating the Ebola epidemic and serving lives. As MTN we believe the only way to start reversing the devastating effect is to come together to fight the epidemic."