Standard Chartered continues to partner AMH in the Community Outreach Programme to support the Saudi-Bahrain Institute for the Blind

25 May 2011, Manama, Bahrain - Standard Chartered Bank Bahrain continues to partner American Mission Hospital (AMH) in the Community Outreach Programme as part of the Bank's three year sponsorship commitment of BD21,000.

The recent Community Outreach programme initiative led to medical treatment for over 30 children from the Saudi- Bahrain Institute for the Blind over a two-day period. The children received a complete physical examination by the pediatricians as well as receiving physiotherapy.

The Standard Chartered Bank and AMH Community Outreach Programme partnership is part of the Bank's Seeing is Believing (SiB) initiative, the Bank's global programme to help tackle preventable and curable blindness. Since launching in 2003, SiB has helped 16 million people and restored sight to more than 2.5 million people.

Jonathan Morris, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Bahrain said, "We are delighted to be able to participate in the Community Outreach Programme and to support AMH and Saudi - Bahrain Institute for the Blind, who are both long standing community partners of the Bank. For Standard Chartered, supporting the communities in which we live and work is integral to our strategy of creating sustainable economic development."

"In addition to the Bank providing funding for the Community Outreach Programme, Bank's staff also volunteered to support this initiative. Standard Chartered encourages its employees to donate time to have a positive impact on their communities. Staff volunteering helps us to build stronger relationships with our communities and reflects our brand promise of being Here for good."

AMH Marketing & Development Manager & Community Outreach coordinator Bahnaz Abbas added, "The legacy of the American Mission Hospital is commitment to provide quality medical care as laid down by our founders more than 108 years ago when they overcame all hardships and barriers to serve the community of Bahrain. What we are doing today is just a drop in the ocean compared to the original cause but we are glad that through the Community Outreach Program we are able to give back to the Kingdom of Bahrain at least a small part of what we have received in the form of support and affection throughout the ages. Sponsors such as Standard Chartered Bank play a vital role in helping us fulfill our aim."

The Bank's contribution to the community outreach programme will be utilized towards blindness and diabetic initiatives for the community. In 2010, in coordination with AHM, the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Heath, the Bank supported an initiative at the Hamad Town Community Centre where the Bank sponsored free eye and diabetic testing for the community and advice on how to deal with preventive blindness and diabetes. The link between diabetes and blindness is very prevalent. People that have diabetes are much more likely to develop a number of eye diseases that can rob them of their eyesight. Thus, it is very important for people to understand the link between diabetes and blindness in order to take the necessary steps of preventing the loss of their eyesight.

For further information, please contact:

Nimmi Kamal
Head Corporate Affairs Bahrain, Standard Chartered Bank
Tel: +973 3977 0760
E-mail: Nimmi.Kamal@sc.com

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