FCMB continues healthcare intervention programme in partnership with TCF
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has furthered its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF), a Nigerian-Indian non-profit organisation.
The latest involves eye screening tests, full ophthalmic medical examination, eye surgeries, provision of free medication, eye glasses and counselling for those suffering from cataract, an eye defect that could lead to blindness if not promptly treated.
The annual First City Monument Bank (FCMB)’s sponsored free eye screening and cataract surgery programme known as, Priceless Gift of Sight commenced in Kebbi, Cross Rivers and Imo states. This marks the eight consecutive year the Bank is organising this intervention programme in partnership with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation.
Thousands of people across Nigeria have so far benefited from the exercise since it commenced in 2009. This year, the Bank sponsored 500 eye surgeries in Kebbi, Cross Rivers and Imo states, while thousand others underwent the screening for cataract during the programme.
In 2016, a total number of 2,328 people were screened in Cross Rivers, Katsina and Kebbi states with 400 eye surgeries successfully performed. The Bank has previously carried out the programme in Adamawa, Imo, and Ogun states.
Commenting on the initiative and the involvement of FCMB, the Group Head, Corporate Affairs of the Bank, Diran Olojo, said, “the importance of sight to the well-being of an individual and the nation cannot be over-emphasised.
We are proud to sustain the sponsorship of this initiative with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation because it has continued to positively touch and transform the lives of thousands of people, homes, businesses and indeed, the society. We believe that all communities in which we operate should benefit from our presence by contributing to their sustainable development. Our commitment to providing help and meeting the needs of some people in the society has continued to model our approach to how we operate as a business’’.
He pointed out that cataract has become a global problem that affects mostly the aged, but recent discoveries have shown that it is beginning to also affect the younger ones. Olojo pointed out that this has negative implications for the socio-economic development of the country, especially in the areas of manpower development and poverty alleviation.
‘’We urge all those with this sight problem to take advantage of the unique opportunity being offered by the Priceless Gift of Sight initiative to visit the screening centres in Calabar in Cross Rivers state, Birnin-Kebbi in Kebbi state, Owerri in Imo state. We plan to extend the programme to more communities and other states soon’’, the FCMB spokesman added.
Also speaking on the programme, the Chief Operating Officer of Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF), Col Prasad said, “the priceless gift of sight has gone a long way to transform the lives of people, especially the poor and needy who suffer from cataract in Nigeria, but cannot afford the resources to go through tests, medication and surgery. There is no gift in the world better than giving sight to the sightless. Our Foundation is grateful to FCMB for its kind and generous support over the years towards the noble cause of eliminating the scourge of avoidable blindness, while also give hope to the hopeless’’.
Iheanyi Nwachukwu