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23 April 2010
Standard Bank Group takes a stand against malaria
As World Malaria Day on 25 April approaches, Standard Bank Group (SBG) has committed to become a United Against Malaria (UAM) "malaria safe" organization by distributing bed nets, informational materials, and UAM bracelets to its employees in 15 malaria-endemic countries in Africa.
For employees in non-endemic and endemic regions alike, the company is pioneering effective teaching tools through its health care portals and intranet sites. Globally, it's leveraging its football sponsorships and marketing footprints to highlight malaria as a key issue impacting success in Africa.
Malaria kills more people in Sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else in the world. Half the world's population - about 3.3-billion people ? are at risk of malaria. The disease kills one child under five every 30 seconds in Africa. The United Nation? Millennium Development Goal is to eradicate malaria deaths by 2015, and if this goal is to be achieved, efforts to fight the disease need to be accelerated.
As an employer of over 50 000 employees in 33 countries worldwide, and with over 10.5-million customers, it makes sense for Standard Bank, as the leading bank in Africa, to publicly demonstrate its commitment to the continent and its leadership on socially relevant issues facing Africa. With malaria resulting in $12-billion lost in gross domestic product in Africa every year, Standard Bank recognises the burden the disease inflicts on the continent, and wants to be part of a solution that will ensure that malaria deaths are eradicated.
"Malaria is a serious issue for SBG across Africa, having cost us about R45 million last year as a result of absenteeism alone. Adults miss between one to five days each time they or their children suffer a bout of malaria," says Sim Tshabalala, SBG Deputy Chief Executive.
"These statistics, coupled with the fact that 91% of malaria deaths occur in Africa makes it a sustainability issue not only for the bank, but for everyone on the continent."
"We want our staff, their families and our customers to lead healthy and productive lives. It is for this reason that we are doing an education and prevention campaign of this scale," says Tshabalala.
Standard Bank Group will be hosting a number of activities around the continent during the run-up to, and on, World Malaria Day. The activities will include distributing malaria nets to less privileged communities in multiple countries including Nigeria, Uganda, Botswana, Angola and Ghana.
Says Clive Tasker, Standard Bank Africa CEO, ?We are extremely proud of the enthusiasm with which our employees are taking part in these initiatives as this reinforces our commitment to the continent.?
"Our commitment to making the right connections with our customers means going out to as many stakeholders as possible and finding solutions to the obstacles and challenges they face. Malaria threatens the livelihood of our customers. Fighting side by side with NGOs and government institutions against this disease is important to show we care for them not just as customers, but as fellow Africans," concludes Tasker.
For more information on United Against Malaria please visit www.unitedagainstmalaria.org.
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