Stanbic IBTC reiterates commitment to children’s healthcare, education

Stanbic IBTC, a member of Standard Bank Group, has reiterated its commitment to the health and wellbeing of indigent children, even as it promised to continue to work to ensure their educational development.

The organisation made these pledges over the weekend at Tarkwa Bay, an island community in Lagos, and at Shaga, a riverine community in Epe, Lagos when it distributed treated mosquito nets to school children in those areas. The gesture aims at helping to stem the malaria scourge among school children.

The distributions were done in the communities at special events to mark the World Malaria Day organised in partnership with Slum2school, a non-government organization devoted to meeting the educational needs and aspirations of indigent children.

Oyefeso-odusami, head, marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC, Bridget while speaking at Tarkwa Bay, said this year marked the fifth year the financial institution is partnering with Slum2school to

sensitize indigenes in areas such as Tarkwa Bay, Shaga in Epe, Makoko, and other disadvantaged areas on the malaria blight and ways to ensure a malaria-free environment. According to her, the distribution of the mosquito nets and similar interventions are important measures to help stem the scourge, in line with the 2019 theme for World Malaria Day, “End Malaria for Good.” She stated that the Stanbic IBTC Group’s corporate social investment philosophy is focused on three key pillars of education, health, and economic empowerment.

“We hope to help, through this health intervention, our children, particularly the disadvantaged ones, live a healthy, malaria-free life. We believe that healthy children are better able to concentrate on their education and hopefully live a higher quality of life,” said Oyefeso-odusami.

She enjoined the pupils to ensure they imbibe cleanliness as a habit and to use their mosquito nets as a preventive measure against malaria, which remains prevalent in Nigeria. She assured that Stanbic IBTC will continue to support initiatives that will help to eradicate the scourge and other diseases.

The leaders of the two communities, while responding to the gesture, thanked Stanbic IBTC and Slum2school for their efforts. And they promised to continue to rally their people to ensure a clean and safe environment for their children to grow in.

According to Chief Sunday Emmanuel, Baale of Shaga, “We are grateful for the kindness shown by Stanbic IBTC and Slum2school. Today is like a celebration day for us, as you can see how excited the children are to receive the mosquito nets, the refreshments and the tests and medicines given out.” Baale of Tarkwa Bay, said: “This is the second year that Stanbic IBTC and Slum2school will visit us and donate nets, medicines, and vaccines to ensure we are healthy, particularly the children and pregnant women. We will continue to appreciate them and the gesture.”