Stanbic Ready to Partner With State in Malaria Fight

28 April 2011

STANBIC Bank, which is part of the Standard Bank Group of South Africa, has announced its intention to forge strong partnerships with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in the fight against malaria.

Stanbic Bank head of marketing and public relations Kamiza Chikula said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that the financial institution was committed to supplement the Government’s efforts supporting vulnerbale groups in society.

Mr Chikula said the partnership to be forged centered particularly among the most vulnerable groupings in Zambia, which were children, rural communities and those with compromised body immunity such as people living with HIV/AIDS.

He made the announcement to coincide with the commemoration of the United Nations World Malaria Daywhich falls on April 25.

The Standard Bank Group has been a strong global player in the fight against malaria, having jointly won the United NationsUnited Against Malaria award in November 2010 along with MTN and Nando’s.

Due to the Easter holidays, the main commemorative activities have been moved to April 28 to allow maximum participation of all players to enable them make a meaningful impact in the observance of the day in creating awareness against the disease.

Each year, malaria, which causes high fever and flu-like symptoms, kills more than one million people, mostly children, with 350-500 million cases reported worldwid.

Approximately 90 per cent of all cases of malaria are in Africa where one child in 10 dies before the age of five.

This preventable disease is the single largest cause of death in Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa.

AllAfrica – All the Time