Sibongile Maruta Herald Reporter
Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe has donated an assortment of goods worth $15 000 to Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe (ALCOZ).
The donation included soap, sunscreen lotions and sun hats.
ALCOZ looks into the welfare of people with albinism throughout the country.
Zimbabwe has over 39 000 people living with albinism.
Their skin is sensitive to direct sunlight and often require sunscreen lotions for protection.
Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe head of marketing and communications Mr Palmer Mugavha told The Herald that the bank was committed to providing sustainable programmes for people living with albinism.
“As Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe we donate to the Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe every year,” he said.
“This year, we have increased our donation to $15 000 to make sure that all the people represented by ALCOZ are well taken care of, particularly with the hottest summer that we are experiencing.
“Stanbic’s objective is to ensure that people living with albinism have an opportunity to live a comfortable life and enjoy the opportunities that people take for granted.”
Stanbic Bank board member Mrs Nelly Tiyago-Jinjika said albinism was widely misunderstood.
“We continue to support people living with albinism. Albinism is widely misunderstood and it is attached to a lot of stigma and discrimination,” she said.
“The way people react to these beautiful people is always not the correct way.
“We are a rainbow nation. We might be different in one way, but we are the same. We will keep on striving to increase more on our donations to help people living with albinism.”
ALCOZ founder and director Mrs Loveness Mainato said her organisation was grateful for the assistance rendered by Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe.