By Buertey Francis BORYOR
Employees of Ecobank Ghana made varied donations to selected health institutions in five towns and villages across the country last Saturday.
Focusing on ‘Mother and Child’, the second edition of the bank’s Employee Volunteerism programme witnessed its employees make donations valued at about GH¢470,000 to deprived healthcare centres.
The donations included provision of medical essentials and a mechanised borehole for the Mother and Child Unit of Abokobi Health Centre, refurbishment of Adabraka Polyclinic (Antenatal/Postnatal Clinics), as well as refurbishment and equipping of the Tema Health Centre.
The remainder are renovation of the side ward at the Maternity Block of the Takoradi Hospital and refurbishment and provision of equipment for the maternity unit of Abesim Hospital in Sunyani.
The initiative by the employees, aims to impact positively on the social needs of deprived individuals and institutions in local communities in the country. Under the programme, cash and kind contributions would be made annually and donated to such individuals and institutions.
Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, Abena Osei-Poku, in a speech read on her behalf at the event held at Abokobi Healthcare Centre, emphasised that the bank, in line with its corporate vision, remains committed to supporting people in communities across the country.
“This event makes it possible for us to give back to the very communities that have, in diverse ways, supported our business over the years. Today, the name and colours of Ecobank are very visible at all the 5 centres for a very good cause. Generally, we have been making corporate donations and engaging in many CSR programmes over the past three decades of our existence in Ghana.
“Our Employee Volunteerism programmes are, however, different in that they involve the mobilisation of some 1,500 employees in the country to make personal contributions for these events. Though the contributions are purely voluntary, the massive participation in this drive is testament to the desire of all colleagues to make personal contributions toward community development,” she added.
Furthermore, the MD assured that the bank will continue to work with all key stakeholders to improve the conditions of the nation’s citizens, thanking the management of the Healthcare Centre for making time to participate in the colourful ceremony.
Meanwhile, Ms Mavis Kwakye-Mensah, a Physician Assistant (PA) with the centre, speaking on behalf of the facility’s head, Mr. Nafisa Mummy Alhassan, acknowledged that the facility has made tremendous strides critical to the quality of healthcare to the people of the town and its environs; but added that it is burdened with a number of challenges mitigating against the improvement of quality healthcare, citing the lack of water as a major challenge.
“The health centre, since its inception, has relied on the Abokobi-Oyarifa-Teiman Water and Sanitation for its water supply. The use of water at the facility is very critical in infection prevention for both staff and clients. For the past ten (10) months, flow of water to the facility has not been consistent. The facility buys water every week from the polytank trucks to ensure that water is always available for work. This was taking a toll on the internally generated funds (IGF) of the facility.
“The construction of the borehole is a vital addition to our facility. Reliable access to clean water is fundamental to the functioning of any hospital, and your donation will enable us to provide better hygiene, sanitation and a safer environment for both patients and staff,” she added.
Also, she noted that the refurbishing of the Maternity Block is a transformative step toward improving the comfort and dignity of expectant mothers, as it will provide a more welcoming, safer and more comfortable space for mothers to give birth, enhancing both the patient experience and the quality of care.
She was grateful to Ecobank for its incredible generosity. “We are deeply grateful for the donation. These are not just material gifts but life-saving resources that will positively impact the lives of countless families for years to come.”
Abokobi Health Centre is one of the government health centres in the Abokobi sub-District of Ga-East Municipality. Abokobi Health Centre started as a Reproductive and Child Health Unit in 1988 and was later upgraded to the status of a Health Centre with a 7-bed capacity. The health centre, now with a bed capacity of 21, runs a 24-hour service, serving a population of more than 41,357 in the Abokobi sub-District.
Ecobank employees have committed to making generous contributions annually to identifiable institutions in deprived areas around the country. The bank also supplements all such contributions, as part of its broader CSR activities.
