STANBIC’S HELPING HAND TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH ALBINISM

Tafara Chibanda

STANBIC Bank Zimbabwe has come to the rescue of people living with albinism after donating an assortment of sun protection products worth US$25 000 to the Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe.

The financial services institution yesterday handed over 1000 units of sunscreen lotion, 1000 units of antibacterial soap, 1000 units of antiseptic liquid, 1000 units of lip balm and 1000 sunhats.

Stanbic Bank Head Brand and Marketing, Palmer Mugavha, said the institution was pleased to have been supporting people living with albinism for the last nine years, through a partnership with ALCOZ.

“Our partnership with ALCOZ is well calculated as Stanbic Bank fully understands the challenges people living with albinism face throughout the year such as weather elements, particularly the heat, as summer sets in,” said Mugavha.

ALCOZ Projects and Programmes Manager, George Mafararikwa, said:

“Stanbic Bank, our major partner in this worthy cause, has stood by us all these years in support of our initiatives.

“We in turn, as ALCOZ, always see to it that the Stanbic Bank’s hand is well extended not only to beneficiaries in Harare and surrounding areas but that it reaches the most marginalised remote areas such as Binga in Matabeleland North, Matobo in Mat South, Chiredzi, Masvingo, Gokwe in Midlands, Chipinge in Manicaland, Mbire in Mashonaland central just to mention but a few,” said Mafararikwa.

“This support from Stanbic Bank resonates well with one of our programme thematic areas running under the theme ‘Melting Under The Dying Ozone’ which focuses mainly on mitigating the effects of climate change on persons with albinism.

“Thank you to Stanbic Bank and the entire team which has been behind this compassionate gesture towards the albinism society for the past nine years.”

Loveness Mainato, the founder and executive director of ALCOZ, said:

“Stanbic Bank has been supporting us for nine years, and we appreciate their unwavering commitment.

“We hope this programme will reach marginalised areas like Muzarabani where there are many individuals who need assistance,” said Mainato.

Kudzaishe Kusekwa, 21, who is living with albinism and is a beneficiary of ALCOZ’s support, said:

“I am thrilled with Stanbic’s donation because as people who are living with albinism we face numerous challenges due to our skin sensitivity.

“We require specific soaps and sunscreens to protect ourselves from the sun, often we cannot afford these essentials.”