For six years now, Co-operative Bank has proved that a corporate company can seamlessly integrate into the lives of regular people especially with its association with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta's Beyond Zero Campaign.
In its latest instalment, the bank has donated Ksh20 million towards the upcoming campaign aimed at lowering the mother and child mortality rate in Kenya.
The first lady’s Half Marathon is to be held on Saturday, March 8, 2020, to raise awareness and galvanise support towards maternal and child health.
This latest Ksh20 million contribution is the fifth such donation by the bank, which brings the cumulative contribution by the Bank to over Ksh80 million donated in the last 6 years. The sponsorship has supported, among other needs, the purchase of three brand new fully-equipped mobile clinics which were gifted to Narok, Nandi and Kirinyaga counties.
Presenting the donation at State House, Nairobi, Co-operative Bank Group Managing Director and CEO, Dr Gideon Muriuki said that the bank feels honoured to continue supporting Beyond Zero on account of being a local institution whose clients largely come from rural areas where Beyond Zero interventions have the biggest impact.
“Being a Kenyan bank and being in the rural areas, we are indeed one of the beneficiaries of this great initiative and we can only commend you for the mentorship and leadership that you provided on this and we are extremely proud to be part of this journey,” Dr Muriuki stated.
In addition to the cash contribution, the Co-operative Bank will send teams to take part in the 2020 First Lady’s Half Marathon.
The first lady has continued to play an active role in the elimination of preventable maternal and early childhood deaths as outlined in the Beyond Zero Campaign.
"The success of Beyond Zero is well demonstrated by the progressive improvement in key maternal health indicators as well as HIV prevention and management. There has also been an increase in stakeholder participation and goodwill, all necessary for a healthy population.
"We greatly commend the first lady for her bold declaration that she shall be on the frontline in the fight against HIV/AIDS to see an HIV-free generation in her lifetime. We are confident that if Beyond Zero maintains the current momentum, Kenya will be on its way to becoming a safe haven for mothers, children and adolescents where motherhood is enjoyed and children born AIDS-free," read a statement from the bank in part.
Besides the campaign, Co-op Bank has supported other worthy causes including the School Fees Bursary Program that has supported over 7,000 gifted but needy students and capacity-building in the over 15 million-member co-operative movement under the Co-operative Bank Foundation.
