In commemoration of World Malaria Day
last week, Stanbic IBTC PLC in partnership with Slum2School Africa,
organised free medical tests, distributed mosquito treated nets and
drugs to disadvantaged school children. Peter Uzoho who was there,
reports
As if they understood ahead, the import
of the intervention by unknown bodies, last weekend, the pupils of
Adekunle Nursery and Primary School, Makoko, Yaba, Lagos State, were
seen in their mixed attires, playing as a mark of their excitement for
the upcoming event.
Whether they understand the differences in their
sexes was out of question, as they jumped upon one another with no
caution. Their teachers were preoccupied with helping to arrange things
for onward commencement of the occasion, so they had time to play
unrestrained. As peculiar to them, they would quarrel in the process and
would settle before the blinking of an eye.
However, being children who live in the
slum, whose health on daily basis, is threatened by the malaria scourge,
they were selected by concerned corporate and humanitarian
organisations, Stanbic IBTC PLC and Slum2School, for treatment to stem
the malaria scourge and in the process ensure that children and other
community members in Makoko remain healthy.
The event began as the children were led
to settle on their seats. They were distributed with cards as proof of
their attendance and identification amidst rush. Similarly, the staff of
Stanbic IBTC, Slum2School, parents and other guests’ presence were
recognised.
Spicing up the event, a health educationist took the children on a discussion on the malaria sickness, its causes, prevention and control. Afterwards, distribution of mosquito treated nets, medical test and dispensation of drugs by the medical team of Slum2School Africa Organisation, followed chronologically.
Speaking on the side-line of the event,
the Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Nkiru
Olumide-Ojo, said the distribution of the mosquito nets and similar
interventions are Stanbic IBTC’s contribution towards ensuring that
Nigerians, especially, the vulnerable children are free of malaria
infection.
Olumide-Ojo noted that the corporate
social investment philosophy of the bank focused on three key pillars
of: education, health, and economic empowerment for the general
well-being of the people, adding that Stanbic IBTC was determined to, in
line with the 2016 theme for World Malaria Day, ‘End Malaria for Good’,
eradicate malaria and other forms of diseases through appropriate
interventions. She further said that through the intervention, children,
irrespective of their social status or circumstances, would be diseases
free so that they can concentrate on their education and live a higher
quality life.
“Stanbic IBTC is a socially responsible
organisation. We have a CSI value focused on the three key pillars of
health, education and economic empowerment. Through this intervention,
we hope to ensure that our children, irrespective of their social status
or circumstance, are diseases free so that they can concentrate on
their education and eventually live a higher quality of life,” said
Olumide-Ojo.
However, she enjoined the pupils to
ensure they imbibe cleanliness as a habit and use their mosquito nets as
a preventive measure against malaria. Although she observed that
malaria remains prevalent in Nigeria, but assured that Stanbic IBTC
would continue to support initiatives that would help to eradicate the
disease and the likes in the country.
On his part, the Team Lead, External
Relations and Partnership Department, Slum2School Africa Organisation,
Mr. Oluchukwu Banye, said “we are having this in partnership with
Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC in commemoration of our medical outreach
programme. They are partnering with us to provide mosquito nets and some
clinical, and we are handing out those things to the children, who are
the beneficiaries. And also, children who are diagnosed to have one form
of illness or the other would be attended to by our medical team, in
the adhoc clinic that we set up in the school for that purpose.
“The vision of our organisation is to
transform the society by empowering disadvantaged children to realise
their full potentials. We are a non-profit organisation that is in the
educational sector, so we want to contribute to the development of
Africa, through its human capital resources. And we decided that it will
be a good start if we begin with the disadvantaged children, and the
slum settlers are one of the people that we can classify as being
disadvantaged people.
One of the teachers in the school, Mrs
Philomena Kayode, who helped to coordinate the school children and
distribution of the mosquito nets, thanked Stanbic IBTC and Slum2School
for their kind gesture. She said “the mosquito nets distributed last
year helped to boost school attendance among the pupils, as
malaria-induced absences have drastically reduced.”
Kayode, however, called on other
corporate organisations to emulate the commendable gesture. “We are full
of appreciation to Stanbic IBTC and Slum2School for their efforts to
ensure that our children, pregnant women and other members of the Makoko
community enjoy good health. The malaria awareness talk and mosquito
nets distributed last year helped in boosting our health and increased
school attendance because our children are no longer staying away from
school due to malaria. We are calling on other organisations to emulate
this worthy gesture,” she said.
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