Wednesday, 7th April 2020
- CIDRZ DELEGATION:
- Dr Monde Muyoyeta
- Dr Mary Kagujje
- MEDIA PRESENT
- Robert Hambwalula,
- King Syacika
- Media present
- Atlas Mara Staff
Good Afternoon,
I am glad you could join us this afternoon.
As Atlas Mara Bank, we endeavor to partner with organizations that focus on the improvement of the well-being of people in our various communities.
To begin with, we would like to thank the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) for partnering with Atlas Mara Bank on this very important programme to support alleviation of Tuberculosis patients in Choma. We are pleased to partner with organisations that are passionate about giving back to our communities as we are.
Of late the health news headlines have centered on the Covid-19 global pandemic. However, we would like to remind the public that Tuberculosis (TB) remains a deadly disease that has affected many citizens across Zambia. According to records, it’s estimated that every year in Zambia 62,000 fall ill due to TB and it is also estimated that about 17,000 die of TB every year. This is more than the number of Covid-19 related deaths.
We are therefore pleased on this occasion to be making a contribution that will go towards supporting income-generating activities for Tuberculosis (TB) community health workers in Choma district.
We are aware that Zambia is one of the 30 Tuberculosis (TB) high burden countries globally. According to the Global TB report of 2020, 14% of Zambia’s National Tuberculosis budget was unfunded. (Zambia TB country profile). This has led to some key Tuberculosis activities not being funded.
We have also taken note that CIDRZ runs several fellowship programmes aimed at building the capacity of Zambian researchers to participate in finding solutions to health challenges. Pioneering implementation science, qualitative research, capacity building projects, clinical trials and health systems strengthening, has enabled CIDRZ to generate accurate analysis to inform policy which in turn fortifies local and international healthcare practices.
With this insight, we are happy to contribute a cheque for Thirty Thousand Kwacha (K30,000) which we hope will assist the community health workers in support of the various Tuberculosis (TB) activities in Choma. These will include sensitization about TB, psycho-social counselling, contact tracing and administering of TB treatment in the community. This partnership will hence support promotion of health care for one of the most challenging infections of our time.
As a bank, we would like to encourage and grow such partnerships as they play a critical role in improving livelihoods of people in society. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is therefore a critical element of our business and we believe that a healthy society makes a happy and wealthy society.
I have no doubt that this contribution, through this partnership, will result in some benefit to some of our own clients in Choma who may be infected or affected by TB.
This contribution is ultimately from our customers without whose support we would have no not exist as a bank. Therefore, accept the donation as a contribution from the bank, and its staff, the shareholders and the customers that continue to support Atlas Mara and we appeal to them to continue to support us as we also aim to support the community.
About Atlas Mara Bank
As you may be aware Atlas Mara Bank has continued to maintain the biggest branch spread with 50 branches and 112 ATMs across the network, with Southern Province having one of the biggest networks with 6 branches in Livingstone (x2), Kalomo, Choma, Monze and Sinezeze.
We also recently re-launched the Choma Branch in 2020 despite the negative socio-economic impact that has been brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic globally and in Zambia. (The health works in Choma will be well catered for on this premise)
We are doing this to ensure we serve our customers with the best of products and services, as well as placing the usage of digital channels at the centre of everything we do.
As we improve people’s lives we are also committed to offering our customers better ways of banking through our distinct products and services that include marketing leading digital channels such as our award-winning Mobile Banking Application.
One of our goals at Atlas Mara Bank is to recognise the immense opportunities the digital revolution offers and the impact it has on the day to day transactions as our customers use our products and services, for instance, our world-class instant Salary Advance on mobile and the newly introduced website online applications based on our self-service focus, which allows participation in the promotion 24/7 from the comfort of your home or office, also the newly introduced top of the range infinite visa cards and the instant cashback rewards for our customers.
We also recognise that health is cardinal for the effective running of any society. Hence our support to the initiatives and causes that support a healthy Zambia.
I wish you all the best and God bless you.
The End.
Tuberculosis in Zambia
TUBERCULOSIS (TB) is a disease caused by a germ called mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually affecting the lungs and other parts of the human body.
Currently TB is one of the major causes of ill-health and death in Zambia and doctors have started expressing concerned that there is an emerging threat of TB drug resistance in most patients.
The move has since prompted government with some cooperating partners to construct a drug resistant TB ward at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) where to be confine such patients for closer monitoring from specialized health personnel.
According to records, it’s estimated that every year 62 000 fall ill due to TB and it is also estimated that about 17 000 die of TB every year.
The tuberculosis statistics in Zambia further shows that about 47 people are everyday dying from the same disease. According to ministry of health about 23,000 of TB patients remain undetected due to failure to go for screening services and others deliberately just ignoring their persistent coughs.
The facts are that TB is spread by breathing in, air infected with a TB germ and that all forms of TB are curable.