Standard Chartered contributes $50, 000 for masks

By BUUMBA CHIMBULUSTANDARD Chartered Bank has contributed US$50, 000 to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Zambia to support the provision of locally produced personal protective face masks in targeted communities.Head of Global Banking, Emmy Kumwenda, said this was in response to the Ministry of Health which had been advocating the ‘Five Golden Rules’ in to the fight against Covid-19 in Zambia.Ms Kumwenda said Standard Chartered Bank was delighted to partner with the UNDP Zambia to contribute US$50,000 for the local production of face masks for distribution in targeted communities.“In addition, it is particularly important that we are supporting the local production of these face masks, as we will also be supporting local entrepreneurs, who have not been spared from the pandemic.“The emphasis on women entrepreneurs bodes well with the Bank’s women empowerment agenda,” Ms Kumwenda said in a statement.She stressed that Standard Chartered remained firmly committed to Zambia and to supporting the communities in which we operate.Ms Kumwenda said her organisation believed in forging strategic partnerships to ensure effective, and collaborative response to national challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic.UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Roland Seri, said that the donation was a clear example of partner confidence in UNDP to collaborate with communities and provide the needed empowerment in crisis times.“It is our mandate to empower vulnerable groups in crisis times. We have seen that many women have suffered the brunt of COVID-19. This donation will not only empower the women tailors but also those in markets supporting our economy,” he said.