Ecobank Sierra Leone, a subsidiary of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), a leading Pan-African banking group, today Tuesday, June 14 handed over Dr. D. .J .O Robbin Coker Pediatric Ward at the Connaught Hospital after spending half a billion Leones to refurbish the facility.
ECOBANK provided 2O pediatric beds and bed linings, 3 visitors chairs, window cotton for the entire ward, 3 wheelchairs, privacy screening for all the beds, two smart TV sets, and multi tv decoder, a nurses station with reception desk and chairs, a desk and chair for the doctor’s office, notice board, refrigerator for vaccine storage, and veronica buckets as part of the refurbishing package.
ECOBANK also restored the toilets and baths, painted the ward, replaced the wall tiles, replaced the child-friendly murals, fumigated the ward, and gave a garden to assist children to recuperate.
According to Aina Wright Moore, ECOBANK’s Managing Director, the bank is handing over the ward as a gift to the children of Sierra Leone, as the country sets to join other African nations to commemorate the day of the African Child on June 16.
This year marks a decade-long relationship between ECOBANK and Connaught Hospital through the adoption of the Children’s Ward also known as Ward 1.
Moore explained that in 2O12, the then ECOBANK Managing Director Clement Dodoo decided to refurbish and adopted the Connaught Hospital Children’s Ward.
She said, “ECOBANK believes that as a corporate institution it is our responsibility not just to contribute to any project for the sake of it but rather support projects that can touch the lives of many people and create significant impact in the communities 
we live andwork. Thus in 2O22 we adopted thechildren’s ward and refurbished it at a cost of $3O, OOO. For us in ECOBANK that was money well spent as an investment in health and education of our children symbolizes investment in the future of Sierra Leone.”
ECOBANK’s MD said the focus on health and education is deliberate and fully aligned with the bank’s corporate vision of investing in Africa’s future. “As a leading Pan African bank set up by our founding fathers borne of the deep desire to establish a first-class financial institution owned by Africans, run by Africans and for Africans, ECOBANK is determined and committed to the development of Africa and education, health and well being of our people is critical in the journey.”
She said that ECOBANK takes its responsibility as a corporate citizen very seriously.
Further stating that over the past few years ECOBANK has supported the health sector in Sierra Leone in various areas.
In 2O19, MD Moore said “ECOBANK group declared that it would dedicate 3 years to raise awareness about non-communicable diseases across Africa. Across our network of 33 countries in Africa…”
Aina Moore highlighted that 2O19 ECOBANK collaborated with the director of noncommunicable diseases in the Ministry of Health, the Red Cross, and the renowned Dr. PH Russell to provide free screening for non-communicable diseases to 2,5OOO residents of Freetown.
Also, she said, “in 2O2O, amidst the COVID we focused on diabetes, again we supported the directorate of noncommunicable diseases in the drive to provide free blood sugar testing for residents in underprivileged communities.”
“Last year we turn our focus to mental health. Partner with Sierra Leone psychiatric hospital to spread awareness on mental health and cleaning of the wards and also spend a day at the facility.”
The MD noted that another critical intervention was the renovation of the specialist outpatient unit at the Old During Children Hospital to cater to children with diseases needing specialist care. “We also provide significant financial support to the government of Sierra Leone towards the fight against Ebola, COVID, during the mudslide and drinking water in our drive to complement the health of pupils to about 1O schools in Freetown.”
