Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Gambia LTD in observance of World Sight Day in The Gambia, yesterday embarked on an eye-care presentation and ‘free eye’ testing for interested staffs, media houses and customers, at a ceremony held at the SCB Head Sffice in Banjul.

SCB Group launched “Seeing is Believing” as one of the Global Corporate social responsibility initiatives. These initiative aims to treat 1 million people, with preventive blindness.  The testing was carried out by Dr Winston Ceesay of the Sheikh Zayed Regional Eye Care Centre.

In his opening remarks, Wilfred Ntube, acting CEO of Standard Chartered Bank disclosed that SCB is highly-committed to having a positive impact on the economies, communities and environment, in which they operate. He said in pursuing their business objectives, they aim to contribute towards sustainable development.

According to him, “by addressing these challenges, they can make the SCB brand stand as a unique bank in the market place”.  He noted that to date, Standard Chartered Group, has contributed at least US$22 million in community activities globally.

He then announced that the ‘Seeing is Believing’ initiative was launched in 2003 and to date SCB Group, has raised more than US$8 million enough to give sight to more than one million people. He added that Standard Chartered aims to raise another US$6 million over the next 3 years, in order to assist another 1 million people.

“Donations received during this occasion will be used for sight restoration in The Gambia and we encourage employees to contribute towards the development of our local communities, by sharing their knowledge, skills and talents, wherever we live and operate,” he said. 

For her part, Awa L. Njie, Head of Corporate Affairs, at the Standard Chartered Bank revealed that their main mission, is to be the right partner and to lead the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Assanatou Barry-Njie at the SCB Associate Financial Institution, in her vote of thanks, said Standard Chartered Bank is highly committed in not only pursuing their business goals, but they are dedicated to contributing to positive improvement of the communities in which they operate.

She then commended their esteemed customers, media partners, like the Daily Observer and the team from the Sheikh Zayed Regional Eye Care Centre for their collaboration.