ECOBANK Zimbabwe on Saturday brought smiles to residents of Glendale after donating 500 mosquito nets as part of their social responsibility programme in assisting the government’s efforts to curb malaria deaths. AARON UFUMELI
Speaking during the Ecobank Day whose theme this year was Malaria prevention and control in Africa, Ecobank Zimbabwe finance director James Shumbanhete said malaria needs combined efforts to tackle it.
“The government of Zimbabwe needs all resources it can get to fight the disease and let us all have the zeal for a continued commitment to this fight against deaths caused by malaria.”
Glendale has of late seen a huge increase in the number of malaria cases and deaths especially the neighbouring farms.
In some of the activities during the Ecobank Day officials from the education and health ministries imparted information to residents on malaria awareness prevention methods while those infected were encouraged to seek early treatment.
An elderly recipient of the mosquito net, Elizabeth Kasikati said she would use the nets to protect herself from mosquitoes bite.
Her message of goodwill was also echoed by Glendale ward 17 councillor Dominic Chimumba who applauded the bank on its efforts to curb malaria and urged other financial institution to join in the fight against malaria.
Ecobank Day is celebrated annually in which over 20 000 of the group’s staff will be encouraged to devote the whole day to serving the communities in which the Togo-headquartered Ecobank Transnational Incorporated operates in.
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Ecobank operates in 36 African countries including Zimbabwe. It has a licenced operation in Paris and representative offices in Beijing, Dubai, Johannesburg, London and Luanda.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 80% of the estimated 207 million malaria cases worldwide in 2012 were in the African region.
WHO 2012 statistics showed that 90% of the estimated 627 000 global malaria deaths occurred in Africa.
