Access Bank Educates Communities On World Mosquito Day
Access Bank has shown its commitment to giving back to communities across Nigeria through partnerships with other private enterprises – supporting the work of non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of the disadvantaged through outreach programmes, funding and infrastructural development, and peer-to-peer education.
It also partners with relevant government agencies to advocate for causes that affect citizens daily.
World Mosquito Day is one of these causes. 20 August 2018, the annual World Mosquito Day, was chosen to recognize the role mosquitoes play in the spread of diseases like malaria, yellow fever and most recently, the zika virus which spread through Africa and Europe causing a global pandemic. Malaria is a major health concern in Nigeria causing an average of 6,000 deaths each year, predominantly women and children.
Because it is an issue that affects all Nigerians, government and private organizations understand the importance of joining hands together to fight and eradicate the disease.
Corporate Alliance of Malaria in Africa (CAMA) is an association of private corporations who have chosen to pool their financial resources and skill to contribute to the fight against malaria.
CAMA is doing this through partnerships with GBC Health, civil society stakeholders, and non-government organizations also dedicated to the cause.
Access Bank as a member of the CAMA and a co-chair on the organization’s board participated fully in this year’s commemoration by steering the conversation around corporate participation in the eradication of malaria.
Through this, Access Bank has been able to introduce innovative ideas geared towards the control of the disease. The Bank is partnering with CAMA, GBC Health and HACEY Health Initiative to run a series of awareness programmes across Lagos.
The purpose of these field visits is to engage indigent communities in Ilaje Bariga, Ibafo local government, Ajegunle Ikorodu and Ebute-meta, educating them on the dangers of malaria and the preventive measures available to protect them from mosquitoes – the primary carrier of the disease.
Through the HACEY Health Initiative, Access Bank visited the communities with doctors to run spot tests and distribute treated mosquito nets, a primary tool in the prevention of malaria. Community members received useful information on how their personal habits and practices can render them susceptible to infection. The doctors also listened to their health concerns and provided useful feedback during Q&A sessions.
Access Bank and CAMA also visited Nigeria Info FM radio station to talk about mosquitoes and how it threatens health and societal development.
Both organizations stressed the importance of protection against the insect through persistent education and provision of safe practices. Access Bank remains committed to the eradication of diseases and the overall wellbeing of Nigerians, and it will continue to support initiatives like the World Mosquito Day to address the problem head on
