GTBank supports Ebola fight with N40m

GUARANTY Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) has extended its support towards the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Intervention strategy in West Africa with a donation of N40 million to Swiss Red Cross and Doctors without Borders. 

  GTBank’s donation of N40 million to Swiss Red Cross and Doctors without Borders is to support the dispatch of trained personnel, creation of mobile laboratories to improve diagnostics, setting up of more Ebola case management facilities in remote areas.

  It will also help in the creation of regional network of field hospitals to treat medical personnel and address the collapse of state infrastructure, which has left people in many parts of West Africa without access to basic healthcare. 

  The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Segun Agbaje, said that “GTBank will continue to lead the way as a responsive and socially responsible corporate organization in line with its strategic Corporate Socially Responsibility (CSR) objectives. 

  “We are convinced that these funds will, among other things, better equip volunteers and medical practitioners in the forefront of combating further outbreak of Ebola and saving more lives”.

  The bank, in response to the outbreak of the disease, had put in place some precautionary measures to safeguard its customers and business communities by providing infra-red thermometers which were used to check all persons before they enter the branch facilities and ensuring that hand sanitizers are always provided at all entry points of the bank.

  The response to Ebola outbreak by Swiss Red Cross and Doctors without Borders started in Early 2014 with the establishment of Ebola case management centers (CMCs), provision of beds in isolation and transit centers, proper dispose of dead bodies and provision of medical personnel and supplies. 

  After few months of proper execution of intervention measures by the group, there is remarkable decline in the outbreak, though more actions are required to combat further outbreak as well as effective implementation of World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Roadmap against Ebola.