Stanbic IBTC, a member of the Standard Bank Group, has distributed treated mosquito nets to school children in the Makoko, Yaba area of Lagos State. The distribution represents Stanbic IBTC’s efforts at helping to stem the malaria scorch and in the process contribute to the health and wellbeing of children and other community members in the Makoko area.
The distribution was done over the weekend at the Adekunle Anglican School, Makoko, at a special event to mark the World Malaria Day organized in partnership with Slum2School, a non-government organization devoted to meeting the educational needs and aspirations of indigent children.
Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, while speaking on the partnership with Slum2School, said the distribution of the mosquito nets and similar interventions are Stanbic IBTC’s contribution to the eradication of the malaria pandemic. This, she said, is in line with the 2016 theme for World Malaria Day, “End Malaria for Good”, to eradicate malaria and other forms of diseases through appropriate interventions. She stated that the Stanbic IBTC Group’s corporate social investment philosophy is focused on three key pillars of education, health, and economic empowerment.
“Stanbic IBTC, as a socially responsible organization, has a CSI value focused on the three key pillars of health, education and economic empowerment. Through this health intervention, we hope to ensure that our children, irrespective of their social status or circumstance, live a healthy, malaria-free life so that they can concentrate on their education and eventually enjoy a higher quality of life,” said Olumide-Ojo.
She enjoined the pupils to ensure they imbibe cleanliness as a habit and to use their mosquito nets as a preventive measure against malaria, as, according to her, malaria remains prevalent in Nigeria. She assured that Stanbic IBTC will continue to support initiatives that will help to eradicate the scourge and other diseases.
A teacher and parent in Makoko, Mrs. Philomena Kayode, who helped to coordinate the school children and distribution of the mosquito nets, thanked Stanbic IBTC and Slum2School for their gesture. She said the mosquito nets distributed last year helped to boost school attendance among the pupils as malaria-induced absences drastically reduced. She, therefore, 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,” Mrs. Kayode said.
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