Standard Chartered today said it will commit USD 1.6 million in India to five eyecare projects to bring in innovation and strengthen the delivery mechanism for the needy in 2016-19 under its Seeing is Believing programme.
“Standard Chartered Bank today announced the launch of five new eyecare projects to bring in innovation and strengthen the delivery of eyecare to the needy between 2016 and 2019, with a donation commitment totaling USD 1.6 million,” it said in a release.
These projects will be delivered through a partnership forged among the bank, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and leading eyecare NGOs across 15 states, thereby pooling in resources and expertise.
“Eyecare is a critical component of healthcare. By building eyecare capacity in the country, we are improving health systems and infrastructure,” said Zarin Daruwala, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, India.
“We are committed advocates in the campaign to eliminate avoidable blindness. Through sustained investment and innovation and by integrating Seeing is Believing projects within national health systems, we are extending the impact of the programme to many marginalised communities in India.”
Standard Chartered said there are up to 39 million people already blind across the world and more than 90 per cent are in the developing world and deprived urban areas.
Seeing is Believing is Standard Chartereds global initiative to tackle avoidable blindness and visual impairment.