The ManicaPost
Health Reporter
ONE of the country’s leading financial services institutions, Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, recently donated sunscreen lotions and moisturisers to the Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe as it fulfils its commitment of giving back to the community in which it operates.
Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe public relations and communications manager, Mr Sidney Kazhanje, said the bank was cognisant of the fact that sunscreen lotion was one of the most important if not the most critical requirement of people living with albinism, hence the donation.
“As Stanbic Bank, we are aware that there are more than 5 000 people living with albinism Zimbabwe and that their major challenge is that their skin is sensitive to the sun…The sun can cause complications such as skin cancer. We then saw it fit to donate moisturisers and sun screen lotions to alleviate their plight. Given that there are five Albino organisations in the country, I also urge the rest of the corporate world to chip in with whatever they can regardless of the prevailing economic challenges. Every effort will play a significant part towards assisting people living with albinism,†said Mr Kazhanje.
Receiving the lotions, ALCOZ founder and executive director, Ms Loveness Mainato, said Stanbic Bank’s continued support for albinos was a source of comfort for their organisation. “We are ever so thankful that Stanbic Bank understands the plight of albinos because this is not the first time they have assisted us. Last year they gave us the same products and they go a long way in protecting the beneficiaries from skin cancer,†said Ms Mainato. She said ALCOZ seeks to address the socio-economic, health, educational professional needs of people living with albinism in Harare and Chitungwiza adding that some of their basic needs include protective clothing such as sun hats, long sleeved shirts and sunglasses. The donation demonstrates that Stanbic Bank is not only keen to be a leading emerging markets financial services organisation but is committed to helping its communities.
ALCOZ seeks to help bring about a stigma free and self-reliant albino society which offers capacity building, psychosocial support which includes counselling to the affected people living with albinism.
In 2014 Stanbic donated $2 500 towards Zimbabwe Albino Association which went towards high school fees payments for its disadvantaged members. In 2015 the bank donated skin protection toiletries worth $5 000 to ALCOZ.
