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Bank employees raise fund to tackle blindness
Written by Muda Oyenira, Lagos Wednesday, 01 February 2012
Employees of Standard Chartered Bank have pledged their last hour’s pay of 2011 towards raising USD720,000 for “Seeing is Believing”the bank’s programme to tackle preventative blindness.
A statement from Diran Olojo, the bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs, said the latest fund raising initiative would help the bank meet its target of raising USD100 million by 2020 to improve access to eye-care across its markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Richard Meddings, Group Finance Director at Standard Chartered and Chairman of "Seeing is Believing" said, “Seeing is Believing continues to grow, increasing access to eye-care for millions around the world due to individual staff members who have chosen to donate their last hour’s pay for 2011.
According to him, “we are a step closer to our commitment to raise USD100 million by 2020. While the financial figure is impressive, the impact will be much greater – by providing access to eye treatment or surgeries, we’re transforming people’s lives.”
He added: “The majority of avoidable blindness – 90 per cent of cases – occurs in the developing world affecting economic productivity in communities where the bank operates. Providing eye-care, treatment and surgeries for affected populations enables individuals to regain their sight and, as a result, are able to work or study or better care for their families. As one of the most cost-effective health interventions tackling preventable blindness was identified as a worthwhile focus for Standard Chartered’s fund raising activity”
“Seeing is Believing” has provided access to eye-care services to more than 25 million people since it was launched in 2003. It has helped fund more than 2.7 million eye surgeries, training for more than 58,000 health care workers, 3.4 million eye-care screenings and the distribution of 126,000 pairs of eye glasses across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
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