To save children,Standard Bank employees donate blood

This initiative has been carried out since the ICOR creation in 2001 and has benefited underprivileged Mozambican children through free access to cardiac catheterization and heart surgery.

Thus, Standard Bank, through its employees, had joined this initiative, which has already benefited more than 1,200 children, 92% of which have free of charge surgeries.

According to Standard Bank representative Camal Daude, "we have joined the initiative in response to an appeal from ICOR for the need to donate blood to children who will have a heart surgery, many of whom are underprivileged and far from their families."

More than contributing to the success of this initiative, as explained by Camal Daude, Standard Bank's support also aims to raise society awareness of the importance of blood donation.

"Society must be aware of the importance of donating blood. There are people who need blood in hospitals and we are all called upon to give our support. Knowing this, the Standard Bank sensitized its employees and this will be replicated by them within their families, friends, etc., "said Camal Daúde.

On her turn, Justina Manjate, representative of the Maputo Central Hospital Blood Bank, partner of the initiative, praised Standard Bank employees gesture, which will help to save many children.

"It is important that institutions do care about social initiatives. There are many children who will have surgeries and the blood is essential in these situations. Just to get an idea, one unit, with 500 milliliters, can save five to six children, depending on the case, "said Justina Manjate.

For Eleutério Maússe, a Standard Bank staff member, the act of donating blood is "an act of solidarity with patients, which in this specific case are children experiencing heart surgeries. We should extend our hand whenever we can because we never know when we will need it. "