N1bn health workers’ fund launched in Lagos

As part of efforts to support frontline healthcare professionals who are taking care of persons infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, Sterling Bank Plc has launched N1 billion Health Workers’ Fund.

To kick-start the fund, N27 million has been raised so far, with the bank donating N25 million while some publicspirited individuals donated N2 million.

Citing the unusually high rate of cases of healthcare workers infected by the virus in the course of treating patients in countries like Spain and Italy, the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman said it is imperative that tangible efforts are made to protect the healthcare personnel at the frontline of fighting the infection, especially given their low number in Nigeria.

Addressing journalists through a virtual press conference hosted by the bank during the weekend, he said, "There was a particular point in Spain when 14 per cent of those infected were healthcare workers. We felt that if we were to have that level of infection among the limited number of healthcare workers in the country, the effect would be far-reaching and disastrous. So, we decided to intervene.”

He enjoined well-meaning and public-spirited Nigerians to contribute to the fund through the website, Giving. ng, a crowdfunding platform, and expressed hope that the fund will trigger a better way to treat health workers in the country.

Commending the Bank for setting up the Health Workers’ Intervention Fund, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, Chairman of the governing board, promised that the Board will evolve rapidly to stay ahead of COVID-19 developments and discharge its duty transparently.