ALISON (Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online), one of Africa’s largest educators, has launched a free course on understanding the Ebola virus with the aim of helping to spread awareness and knowledge of the Ebola virus, its dangers and threats, and information on how to avoid it among millions of online learners across Africa and worldwide. On August 8, 2014, the World Health Organization declared an international public health emergency as a result of the Ebola outbreak.

With learners in every country worldwide, the ALISON free learning platform can be used as an efficient way of getting timely health literacy information and training to millions. Mobile enabled, ALISON has significant student numbers in the most affected countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. It has over 100,000 learners in neighboring Nigeria and 50,000 in Ghana which have experienced new outbreaks of the disease.

ALISON is offering free online access to the courseware as well as free online groups and free assessment for schools, colleges and workplaces that wish to make sure all of their students and employees properly understand the course instruction. These organizations can print off Certificates of Completion for each individual learner as proof of learning.

Commenting on the launch of the “Understanding the Ebola Virus” course, ALISON CEO & Founder Mike Feerick stated that “as one of Africa’s largest educators we have a responsibility, as well as the opportunity to spread awareness and knowledge of the Ebola virus and help the global effort to contain the spread of this deadly disease.” Dr Eric Corbett, Head of Content at ALISON stated that the fact that online courses can be updated instantly as new information appears make it a dynamic and an especially useful communication and effective learning tool. While internet penetration in rural areas across Africa is below global averages, the use of mobile phones is climbing at exceptional rates making many more people reachable than ever before.

Organizations wishing to use the free learning infrastructure for this course can do so directly via the ALISON website. The course was developed using as core content the World Health Organization, and the United States based CDC (Centre of Disease Control) Guidelines.

To apply for a free learner group for your school, college or workplace, contact support@alison.com including the words "EBOLA" in the subject line of your email.

ALISON, which stands for "Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online" pioneers a unique education and training model that allows all learning, assessment, testing, and verification to be accessed by anyone, anywhere, at any time for free. Founded in 2007, ALISON is recognised as one of the first MOOC providers, (Massive Open Online Course), beginning a movement which today is revolutionizing global access to education and workplace skills training and employment opportunity.