Standard Chartered Bank's new vision for "Seeing is Believing" represents the coming of age of a programme which started in 2003 and continues to be driven by its staff, customers and stakeholders through fundraising and volunteering.

In line with this objective, Standard Chatered Bank Gambia, last Wednesday, conducted a free eye test for its staff and customers at its Senegambia branch. As part of the project, which runs from 2008 to 2013, the bank aims to raise US$10 million. According to Awa Njie, head of Corporate Affairs at Standard Chartered Bank Gambia Ltd, the bank is expected to invest USD 20 million in sustainable eye care services for 20 million people in less advantaged areas covering 20 cities across the world.  "What we are doing is helping to create an eye health care system that will last for the long-term and offer a complete solution to avoidable blindness, ranging from community screening to Vitamin A distribution, spectacle provision to access to surgery and complex care.  

International Agency for Prevention of Blindness describes it as 'trail-blazing", she said. She added: "We will be working in the poorest areas of the very cities and make sure that we are giving eye care to those that need it most.  In October 2008, Standard Chartered Bank, Gambia Ltd, in collaboration with its stakeholders, raised funds in order to pay for cataract surgeries for a set number of people nationwide. This new vision for 'Seeing is Believing' brings our programmes to the heart of our communities", the SCB Corporate Affairs boss further revealed.

"Consequently, as part of our new vision for Phase IV of the SIB initiative, again in collaboration with the Sheikh Zayed Regional Eye Care Center, also provided free eye tests for their valued customers and staff at our Kairaba branch banking hall on the same day," she added. Commenting on this initiative, CEO Humphrey Mukwereza of Standard Chartered Bank said the bank is highly committed to not only pursuing its business goals but to contributing towards the positive improvement of the communities they operate in.