Fidelity Bank partners coalition on health project

Fidelity Bank Plc has partnered with Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs in Nigeria as part of efforts to support and commemorate the 2018 World Sickle Cell Day (SCD).

The pact is poised to help the coalition improve on its advocacy and awareness processes in the country, thereby limiting the challenges encountered with sickle cell disorder.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the walk, the Head, Human Resources Recruitment, Fidelity Bank, Chris Nnakwe, said the financial institution has its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies targeted at environment, education and social welfare, which health and social welfare is of topmost priority.

To this end, as part of the activities lined up for SCD, there would be a “red umbrella” charity walk slated for June 16, with the kick-off point at the Teslim Balogun stadium in Lagos.

“Incidentally, we have a group where we drive our social welfare, which we call the fidelity helping hands programme. Above and beyond touching lives, our staffs, units, divisions, groups, branches involved in real life touching and impacting projects.

This is one of such things, we drove down to a particular division and department of the bank called the e-banking,” he said.

Nnakwe who also doubles as the Head, CSR and Sustainability, revealed that the e-banking division took up the initiative, which goes beyond building structures but to get involved in the awareness.

“We would be a part of this journey with intent to make the awareness an annual sponsorship and make it get better to ensure that we have a safe and sound healthy environment in the country, Africa and the world at large,” he added.

The Chairperson of the coalition, Toyin Adesola, said the main objective of the awareness is to improve issues surrounding sickle cell disorder through collaborative efforts amongst NGOs, government, corporate organisations and the society.

According to her, about 150,000 Nigerian children are born each year with sickle cell disorder, stating that survival of these children beyond childhood, is largely dependent on their access to appropriate care and as most are born into underprivileged families, which few survive childhood.

Adesola said: “As a country we must determine to work together to stem the tide, ensure and advocate for better management and care thereby bringing hope to affected persons and their families.