Wed, 07 Jun 2017 11:55:26 +0000
By Kalobwe Bwalya
STANDARD Chartered Bank has empowered Kamanga residents in Munali constituency with free eye screening after committing US$3 million to prevent blindness in Zambia.
Standard Chartered head of retail and banking Sonny Zulu said the free eye screening was part of the bank’s ‘‘Seeing is believing” programme which was launched in Zambia in 2009.
Ms Zulu said the programme was based on one fundamental premise that every year people around the world, including in Zambia, succumb to unnecessary blindness that could be avoided through proper eye screening and medical interventions.
“This flagship programme is implemented through strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Health and Sight Savers, amongst others. That is why Standard Chartered Bank has committed $3 million over 10 years in Zambia to prevent avoidable blindness,” said Ms Zulu.
PF Kunkula ward councilor Smart Mweetwa commended Standard Chartered Bank for their efforts and for being a force for good in Kamanga community.
Mr Mweetwa appealed to other institutions to emulate Standard Chartered Bank’s initiative to empower communities in Kamanga and the surrounding areas.
This was part of the bank’s Seeing is Believing flagship community programme, which aims to tackle avoidable blindness in Lusaka, North Western and Muchinga provinces over the period 2009 – 2019.
In partnership with Sight Savers Zambia and Chainama General Hospital, the bank staff volunteered time and ensured that over 250 residents of Kamanga received free eye screening and spectacles for those that need them.
They also conducted free cataract surgeries as well as financed two eye centres at Solwezi General Hospital and a new one at Chawama clinic.
Last year the bank announced a new partnership with Sight Savers Zambia worth US $500,000.
