The New Nation - Internet Edition

Standard Chartered Bank today announced that Seeing is Believing, its global initiative to help tackle avoidable blindness, will invest US$20 million to fund the development of sustainable eye care services in less advantaged areas of 20 cities including Dhaka.

This new phase of the programme will give poor, marginalised populations access to complete services from cataract surgery, to preventative treatment and specialised medical interventions. The President of International Agency for Prevention of Blindness described the work proposed as a 'trail blazer' corporate social responsibility initiative in this area.

Dhaka is one of the 20 cities, and Bangladesh is one of first three countries to rollout Seeing is Believing: A New Vision (Dhaka Urban Comprehensive Eye Care Project). The Dhaka chapter aims to serve over 270,000 visually impaired people in Dhaka with Sightsavers International as their partner. The whole operation will be executed with the support of four partner hospitals: Islamia Eye Hospital, Bangladesh National Society for the Blind (BNSB), Ad-Din Hospital and Salauddin Specialised Hospital Ltd. The poor marginalized people living in the Dhaka city will be the main beneficiary of the services.

Initiated in 2003 and driven by the Bank's employees, Seeing is Believing is helping tackle avoidable blindness, 90 per cent of which is found in the developing world where the Bank's business is rooted.

The urban focus of the programme reflects the increasing incidence of avoidable blindness in cities, especially as urbanisation swells the numbers of people living in less advantaged urban areas where access to eye care is poor and awareness around eye health is low.

The services will be comprehensive, delivering community eye health education and awareness raising, together with a range of interventions, from spectacle provision, to surgery according to need.

The services will also be sustainable, designed to support marginalised and excluded populations both now and in the future.

In the design and implementation of the programme, the Bank is working with the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness, the World Health Organisation and leading eye care NGOs. With the support of these partners, 20 cities have been provisionally selected for investment through a systematic process identifying areas of real need.

As a demonstration of its commitment to the programme, the Bank commits to match every donation raised until the US$20million target is met and aims to raise the funds by 2013. The investment will extend from 2008 to 2015 when the programme is due to complete.

A launching ceremony of Seeing is Believing Phase IV: A new Vision (Dhaka Urban Comprehensive Eye Care Project) was held at the auditorium of Islamia Eye Hospital on 14th October, 2008 at 10 a.m. Program was formally launched by Mr. Md Anwarul Iqbal, BPM (Bar), PPM, Honorable Adviser, Ministry of local Government, Rural Development & Cooperative. Acting CEO and Managing Director, OCC, of Standard Chartered Bank Mr. Ahmed A Shah described the Banks long history of Eye Care in Bangladesh and its commitment to make this Five year project a success. Dr. Wahidul Islam, Country Director of Sight Savers International briefed the whole 5 year project. All the diplomats, Local and International NGOs and City elites were present at the program.