According to doctors, after they are born, babies with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) may be breathless and have problems feeding.This leads to chest infections and difficulty putting on weight. Once AVSD is diagnosed, the child will need surgery before he or she is nine months old, else stands the risk of having ‘heart failure’.

“We’ve had countless sleepless nights,” Kweku Awuku, Elain’s father recounted. “There were times that I would stay up all night, surfing the net looking for help.”Then, staff of Stanbic Bank stepped in and in less than two weeks contributed to raise the $ 8,500 needed for the surgery.

According to Linda Aryee, Communications and Special Projects Officer, Stanbic Bank, the staff were moved by little Elaine’s story, so they did all they could to make the surgery possible.“We are delighted to be part of this life saving initiative. As a bank, apart from helping Ghanaians secure their financial health, we also look out to save lives, as seen in some of the numerous projects that we have embarked on.”

Receiving the cheque, Elaine’s father expressed thanks to staff of Stanbic for their charitable act.“We are eternally grateful for this timely intervention. “We don’t know how we could have raised this amount in such little time.”He also expressed appreciation to Starr FM and Graphic Communications for helping appeal for more funds through their media.

Staff of Stanbic are committed to contributing and financially empowering the less privileged - a culture which is in tandem with Stanbic Bank’s culture of supporting and caring for the vulnerable.Staff of the Bank are also often encouraged to identify and contribute towards offering social support in education, sports development, the agricultural sector, poverty relief, health and environmental protection.

This year, staff of the Bank have spearheaded CSR projects such as the donation of a neonatal phototherapy machine to the Ridge Hospital, setting up of a trust fund for two children of a deceased kidney patient, refurbishment of the Children’s Wing of the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Mampong Akwapim as well as donation of food items to a number of orphanages across the country.