STANBIC EXTENDS ITS MATERNAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO KABWE

Zambia’s largest bank moves to help lower maternal mortality rate.

KABWE, ZAMBIA – Stanbic Bank Zambia has handed over the newly build modern mothers’ shelter at Kabwe Mine Hospital.

Built at a cost of K750,000 by Stanbic and its cooperating partners - the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Churches Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) - the facility will provide expectant mothers with a safe and hygienic place to stay while awaiting delivery an immediately after.

The maternal shelter accommodates women in their final stages of pregnancy, particularly those in remote areas and/or in need of regular monitoring from health personnel. The facility includes a sleeping area, shower, and a kitchen. The shelter also has a male wing for expectant fathers, pending the discharge of their partners and new-born babies.

Stanbic Bank and its partners in 2016 launched a campaign to build mothers’ shelters at various rural health posts across the country over a five-year period to help alleviate maternal and child mortality while promoting good health among women in rural areas.

The bank-funded project is worth US$280,000 and matches the objectives of the CHAZ-USAID ‘Saving Mothers, Giving Life Initiative’, which also seeks to reduce maternal and newborn mortality in Zambia.

In 2017, Zambia launched the 7th National Development Plan (7NDP) 2017-2021 under the theme “Accelerating development efforts towards Vision 2030 without leaving anyone behind.” The 7NDP is widely regarded as a local version of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along with other regional development strategies to which Zambia is a signatory.

Improved health for all falls under SDG number three which also seeks to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births by 2030. 

As part of its contribution to helping Zambia achieve this goal, Stanbic Bank has been building mothers’ shelters at rural health posts around the country to improve expectant mother’s health.

Speaking during the handover ceremony in Kabwe, Stanbic Bank Zambia Head of Corporate and Investment Banking Helen Lubamba said the country could not hope to achieve its development goals without an adequate health system.

“Stanbic Bank recognises the importance of good health in a nation’s well-being. We also recognise that the health of a mother and child is crucial in that equation.

“Women in rural and hard-to-reach areas have to cover long distances to access maternal health services. Unfortunately, most of them choose to give birth at home over embarking on a long arduous journey to a health centre while in an advanced stage of pregnancy,” explained Ms Lubamba.

“This is not safe for both the mother and her unborn child because the environment is not conducive and there are no trained birth attendants to assist in case of any complications. It is with this in mind that we have made women’s health one of the key pillars in our community investment and sustainability agenda.”

“As a bank that believes in the endless possibilities for success inherent in the Zambian spirit - as illustrated in our ethos ‘It Can Be,’ - we are confident that the lives that will be saved in this facility may well be our future leaders, our future CEO’s, our future doctors and indeed, our future Presidents.”

Ms Lubamba added that one of the things the bank hoped to achieve under its health strategy was to help reduce maternal mortality rate in line with the SDGs by building mother’s shelters at rural clinics that lack such facilities.

In his keynote address, Central Province Minister Hon. Sidney Mushanga, MP, said that Government’s vision through the Ministry of Health was to provide quality health services with special focus on prime healthcare as a vehicle for attaining universal health coverage.

He added: “This vision can only be achieved by building robust and resilient health systems as well as ensuring equity in accessing cost effective health services as close to family as possible. This mother’s shelter clearly speaks to this vision as it will make it easier for high-risk mothers to access timely appropriate healthcare.”

And Churches Health Association of Zambia Executive Director Karen Sichinga said she was convinced that the mother's shelter would go a long way in increasing the number of births at health facilities and help reduce maternal and new-born mortality.

In addition to Kabwe, Mazabuka General Hospital in Southern Province and Chinunda Rural Health Clinic in Eastern Province have benefited from the project.

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About Stanbic Bank Zambia

Stanbic Bank Zambia is part of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets.

Standard Bank Group reported total assets R2.3 trillion (about USD163 billion) at 31 December 2019, while its market capitalisation was R277 billion (USD20 billion).

The group has direct, on-the-ground representation in 20 African countries and in 5 global financial centres. Standard Bank Group has more than 1 100 branches and 9 000 ATMs in Africa, making it one of the largest banking networks on the continent. It provides global connections backed by deep insights into the countries where it operates.

Stanbic Bank Zambia is the largest bank in Zambia by balance sheet and provides the full spectrum of financial services. Its Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) division serves a wide range of requirements for banking, finance, trading, investment, risk management and advisory services. Corporate and Investment Banking delivers this comprehensive range of products and services relating to: investment banking; global markets; and global transactional products and services.

Standard Bank’s corporate and investment banking expertise is focused on industry sectors that are most relevant to emerging markets. It has strong offerings in mining and metals; oil, gas and renewables; power and infrastructure; agribusiness; telecommunications and media; and financial institutions.

Stanbic Bank Zambia’s Personal and Business Banking unit (PBB) offers banking and other financial services to individuals and small-to-medium enterprises. PBB serves the increasing need among Africa’s small business and individual customers for banking products that can meet their shifting expectations and growing wealth.

For further information, go to http://www.stanbicbank.co.zm/

Gillian Langmead at Langmead & Baker Ltd;

+260 979 060705;

[email protected]