Fidelity Bank Plc has donated maternity kits to 30 pregnant women at Mushin Primary Health Centre, Lagos.
The donation, organised by the Great Minds Inductees Class, was made possible through the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme, a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by Fidelity Bank Plc aimed at promoting staff involvement in community development.
According to a statement from the bank on Thursday, through the FHHP, staff across the bank’s business locations identify projects that benefit their immediate community and gather funds to implement them. The bank’s management then matches this contribution with an equivalent amount and allocates it for the chosen projects.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, noted, “The project was borne out of the need to support pregnant women by providing them with essential materials for safe delivery.
“Maternal mortality remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with the country accounting for a substantial proportion of global maternal deaths. In fact, a 2023 United Nations report indicated that nearly 28.5 per cent of global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria. This is an alarming statistic, and as a bank given to improving the welfare of our host communities, we deemed it fit to support initiatives to address this challenge in the Mushin community with this donation.”
Appreciating the bank’s gesture, the medical and health officer for the Mushin Local Government Area, Dr. Kayode Odufuwa, said, “This intervention by Fidelity Bank will help reduce maternal mortality and encourage more women from less-privileged backgrounds to register for antenatal care.
“On behalf of the Chairman of Mushin LGA, Mr. Emmanuel Bamgboye, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Fidelity Bank for extending its donation of maternity kits to pregnant women at this centre. We appeal for continued collaboration with the Bank to further strengthen healthcare services within the area,” he stated.
In her comments, the Apex Nurse and Deputy Director of Nursing Services in Mushin LGA, Mrs. Bolanle Odunlami, hailed Fidelity Bank for their generosity while noting that, “The donation is a much-needed relief for many mothers who are unable to afford essential delivery kits. Fidelity Bank has truly shown empathy by coming to the aid of our patients, and for that, we are extremely grateful”.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Mary Olusanya, expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the bank’s support.
“I appreciate Fidelity Bank for helping us. Many pregnant women cannot afford these kits, but this donation ensures that we can have safe deliveries and better healthcare,” she said.
Fidelity Bank has over 8.3 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as well as on digital banking channels.
