THE Community Relations Manager of Barclays Bank in charge of Africa, Dr William Derban, has challenged corporate institutions to make the health needs of their clients a priority.
According to him, recording growth in business may be an illusion without the contribution of the client whose resources can significantly transform miniature enterprises to multinational institutions.
Speaking at a health screening and sensitisation programme organised by the Tema branch of the bank, he noted that customer input towards business expansion could not be swept under the carpet although most financial entities believed they could do without it.
“It is for this reason, the Barclays Bank world-wide has developed a new approach to its customer relations as a commitment to give the customer the sense of being part of our business,” Dr Derban stated.
“And while we also seek to encourage volunteerism among staff towards clients, the bank as parts of its thematic declaration this year towards improving upon the lives of clientele through the engagement of 90,000 hours to community service.” he remarked.
Participants were screened for Hepatitis B, diabetes, breast and cervical cancer and general medical conditions. Voluntary HIV/AIDs counselling and testing was also provided.
The Branch Manager of the bank, Mrs Audrey Abakah said the idea of opening up the banking hall for such programmes was informed by its adoption as a customer branch.
According to her, the approach which was part of the bank’s medium term strategy was to offer non financial services to clients and potential clients for choosing to do business with them.
“We believe the provision of non financial services give a new definition to social responsibility aimed at complementing government’s efforts in achieving developmental goals,” she said.
The Deputy Director of Nursing services at the Tema Metropolitan Health directorate, Madam Elizabeth Odoi who supervised the exercise bemoaned the high incidence of new HIV/AIDs infections in the metropolis.
According to her, intensified education embarked on by the metro health in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) had identified that unprotected sex among sexually active persons was still rampant, thereby thwarting sensitisation efforts by the commission.
While appealing to corporate institutions to complement the efforts of the health institutions towards a reduction of the spread of the disease, she called on the clergy to place special emphasis on the disease in their messages.
The Member of Parliament for Tema East, Mr Evans Ashong Narh said, the millions of cedis being spent by the government towards the improvement of sanitation across the country would have been channelled into other areas that needed utmost attention if residents maintain good sanitary practices.
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