1. Posted on Tuesday 14 October 2008 - 05:03

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   mugira

   

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   Fredrick Mugira, AfricaNews reporter in Kampala, Uganda. Photo: Sven Torfinn

   Over 1,400 visually impaired people in Uganda regained their sight in 2008, under the "Seeing is Believing" programme. It is under the auspices of the Standard Chartered Bank in partnership with Sight Savers International. The bank invested over 100 million shillings (USD 60,976) in the project.

   

   Sight Savers International contributed materials worth 40 million shillings (USD 24, 390). Lamin Manjang, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer said that avoidable blindness is not just a health issue, it is an economic issue. He noted that it does not only deprive people from their sight but also deprives them of education and a job, rendering them economically dependent.
   
   Manjang was speaking over the weekend in Gulu to mark the end of the “Seeing is Believing Campaign 2008 in Uganda.”
   
   “In addressing avoidable blindness we can therefore help to empower an individual economically. We are proud of what Seeing is Believing has achieved so far. By tackling avoidable blindness in our communities, we are helping sustain them economically. Our ambition for the future is to provide eye healthcare, resources and training to neglected populations in Uganda,” Manjang stressed.
   
   Seeing is Believing is a global initiative of Standard Chartered Bank initiated in 2003 and driven by the Bank’s employees, to help tackle avoidable blindness. Since the inception of Seeing is Believing in Uganda, over 2000 people once visually impaired have regained their sight.
   
   Dr. Stephen Mallinga, Uganda’s Minister of Heath, recognized the need for other private companies, government, NGOs and communities themselves to work together.
   
   He said such interaction with each others would help the partners focus on what they do well, leverage their distinctive capabilities and infrastructure and complementary skills, which will make the fight for sustainable growth and development less daunting for all involved.
   
   Kiwudhu David, representative from Sight Savers International, described the success achieved so far and future ambitions as a ‘trail blazer’ corporate social responsibility initiative in this area.
   
   Globally, Standard Chartered Bank has also announced that it will invest US$20 million to fund the development of sustainable eye care services in less advantaged areas of 20 cities across the world.
   
   This new phase of the programme will give poor, marginalized populations access to complete services from cataract surgery, to preventative treatment and specialized medical interventions.

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Reactions

1. Posted on Tuesday 14 October 2008 11:33

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   kpekpe

   

   Choice Adams
   10 berichten
   Lid sinds October 2008

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   Great story from stanchart and others. I believe if more money is pumped into such important development issues Africa would leap ahead. We should stop investing in unnecessary arms and wars. A word to the wise goes to the right leader

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