Karachi: Standard Chartered Bank has launched a new local initiative that aims to help eradicate female blindness in partnership with LRBT. The overall aim of this project is to restore the eyesight of approximately 3,111 women by sponsoring cataract surgeries. These surgeries will be conducted at LRBT hospitals across the country. This programme specifically focuses on women because female population is marginalised and is at a disadvantage when it comes to healthcare spends.
This is the first time that the Bank is sponsoring a project directly for LRBT through its Seeing is Believing programme, Standard Chartered’s initiative to help eliminate avoidable blindness. LRBT aims to complete these surgeries by mid year 2015.
Commenting on the project, Mr. Shazad Dada, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Pakistan said, “There are more than 850,000 blind women in Pakistan accounting for approximately 51 percent of the total blind population. I am proud that we are sponsoring the first ever female specific project in the health care space. This programme will hopefully start the drive towards ensuring that every female treated has the gift of sight to enjoy a more wholesome life. Undoubtedly, more could be done to eliminate avoidable blindness in the country and I am delighted that organisations like Standard Chartered are part of the solution.”
Standard Chartered, since the launch of the Seeing is Believing programme in 2003, has invested approximately USD 2 Million to help eliminate avoidable blindness from Pakistan. The Bank has funded some 566,000 cataract operations to date and has helped 3 million people for various eye ailments. Seeing is Believing, with the support of its partners, has played a major role in driving reduction of cataract blindness in Pakistan.
In recognition of the Bank’s efforts, the Government of Pakistan has also made Standard Chartered a partner of the National Steering Committee for Eye Health.
Seeing is Believing is Standard Chartered’s global programme to help eliminate avoidable blindness run in partnership with the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).