STANBIC Bank Zimbabwe has come to the rescue of people living with albinism by donating an assortment of sun protection products worth US$25 000 to the Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe (Alcoz).
The financial services institution handed over 1 000 units of sunscreen lotion, antibacterial soap, antiseptic liquid, units of lip balm and sunhats.
Stanbic Bank head brand and marketing, Palmer Mugavha said they had been supporting people living with albinism for the last nine years through the partnership with Alcoz.
Mugavha said Stanbic Bank wanted to meet the crucial needs of people living with albinism as the hot season sets in.
“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,” he said.
Mugavha said people living with albinism need protection from the harmful effects of the sun owing to the lack of melanin in their skin, which serves as a shield from the sun.
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People living with albinism rely on sunscreen lotions, special oils and lip balm for protection from the sun.
Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited condition which occurs worldwide regardless of ethnicity or gender.
It commonly results in the lack of melanin in the hair, skin and eyes, causing vulnerability to sun exposure.
Alcoz projects and programmes manager George Mafararikwa said Stanbic Bank had now proved to be “an all-weather friend” given the nine-year partnership.
“Stanbic Bank, our major partner in this worthy cause, has stood by us all these years in support of our initiatives,” he said.
“We, in turn, as Alcoz always see to it that 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 Matabeleland South, Chiredzi in Masvingo, Gokwe in Midlands, Chipinge in Manicaland, Mbire in Mashonaland Central just to mention but a few.”
He said Alcoz is committed to supporting government’s efforts to alleviate some of the challenges faced by people living with albinism.
Mafararikwa said the sun protection products will help to protect the beneficiaries from the effects of harsh weather conditions that have been exacerbated by climate change due to global warming.
“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 on mitigating the effects of climate change on persons with albinism,” he said.
Mugavha said the donation by Stanbic Bank was part of a broader and comprehensive corporate social investment (CSI) strategy by the Standard Bank Group subsidiary to plough back into the communities in which it operates.
Stanbic Bank’s CSI initiatives cover four pillars, namely health and sanitation, education, the environment and sports.