EXIM BANK SUPPORTS MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CARE

Mothers who attended maternal clinic at Bombo hospital in Tanga region enjoy free umbrellas given by Exim Bank Tanzania which is part of the bank’s free umbrellas to mothers and new born program, in support of the government’s initiative to improve the health sector. Exim Bank rolled out the program to help mothers and newborns to get shelter from rains and the scotching sun.

In supporting government initiative to improve maternal and child health in Tanzania, Exim Bank Tanzania has identified and started to give aid in areas which seems to be left out during planning.

The Bank has long believed in its slogan “Innovation is life”, thus coming up with a program of distributing free umbrellas to mothers attending clinics in various hospitals of the country. Speaking shortly after giving away several umbrellas to mothers outside Bombo hospital in Tanga region, Mr. Deogratias Makwaia, Branch Manager Tanga said that the bank decided to channel part of its funds set aside for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to buy umbrellas for mothers and their children of whom some might not afford to buy such items.

“It is true that the Government, development partners and other stakeholders has marked maternal and child health as a priority area in the health sector. However, during planning, we discovered that lots of funds are channeled to building health facilities, buying equipment and medicine, but forgetting other supporting items that a mother and or child needs after leaving the health center.

“After our survey in several hospitals across the country, we realized that most mothers attending maternal clinics often face rough times in case of rains or during long distance travels under a scotching sun”.

“Lack of shelter to these mothers and their children, may be a contributing factor to why some of them especially in rural areas abscond regular checkup which is free.

“Exim Bank’s free umbrella to mothers and newborns program, has been rolled out to help these mothers who cannot afford to buy an umbrella for her protection against the scotching sun and rain which might be hazardous to their health,” Makwaia said.

Moreover, he reiterated that her bank will continue supporting other government initiatives implemented within different development sectors.

“The culture of sharing our profit through such programs has been our major concern throughout. Just to mention, Exim Bank registered a profit of TZS 20 billion. I am sure that our management has been diligent enough to share this income with the community as a way of improving living standards of the people where it operates, as well as aiding the country’s economical growth,” he said.