Three pillars unite Scotiabank’s efforts around the world as part of bank’s Global Strategy to help combat HIV/AIDS
Less that a fortnight away from the region’s largest annual testing drive for HIV and AIDS, Scotiabank is underscoring its Global HIV/AIDS Strategy to unite and strengthen its programmes and initiatives across more than 55 countries aimed at addressing this life-threatening disease.
This strategy is part of Scotiabank’s global community-based philanthropic programme, Bright Future, and brings together all of the bank’s efforts under three pillars in the fight against HIV/ AIDS.
“Scotiabank has been a longstanding and active participant in global efforts to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and support people affected,” said Sylvia Chrominska, Group Head of Global Human Resources and Communications at Scotiabank. “The creation of this strategy and supporting pillars builds on the good work that has already been done across our global network. It also underscores Scotiabank’s commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and more specifically, the UN’s Millennium Development Goal 6 on combating HIV/AIDS.”
The three pillars are:
1. Fighting Stigma and Discrimination
Scotiabank will continue to strengthen and implement workplace best practices in its offices and branches. With over 80 000 employees in more than 55 countries worldwide, Scotiabank is in a unique position to combat stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS.
2. Promoting Awareness and Education
Scotiabank will continue its work in promoting awareness and education on HIV/AIDS and seek out new initiatives with a particular focus on children and youth.
3. Contributing Donations and Volunteering
Scotiabank will continue to promote and leverage the work of local grassroots organisations, employee volunteer initiatives and in-kind contributions in countries around the world through its global Bright Future Programme.
“As a leading bank in the Caribbean, Central and Latin America, we know that HIV/AIDS is a health concern that our communities around the world are facing,” said Claude Norfolk, Senior Vice President of International Banking for Scotiabank in the Caribbean. “Our global strategy to combat HIV/AIDS represents an important step in supporting the communities where we live and work by doing our part and focussing our local efforts into a global response.”
In the past ten years, Scotiabank and its employees globally have committed more than $95 million to health care initiatives, including support of HIV/AIDS awareness, research and education.
In Barbados, Scotiabank’s commitment dates back to its support of the National Advisory Committee on AIDS. That support later extended to the National HIV/AIDS Commission. In 2006, the bank used the occasion of its 50th anniversary to rally individual and corporate Barbados in the fight to end HIV/AIDS. The following year, Scotiabank Info’ Life HIV/AIDS awareness programme for secondary schools was launched in association with the education ministry and to date, has delivered HIV/AIDS information to more than 18 000 students. In 2008, the groundbreaking Regional Testing Day partnership with Caribbean Broadcast Partnership on HIV and AIDS (CBMP) and regional ministries of health was piloted in here and in six other countries. This year, testing will be conducted in 21 countries.
In Canada, the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life in cities across Canada has raised approximately $36.5 million since 1996 in support of programmes and services for people infected by HIV/AIDS. For that past four years, Scotiabank has been the presenting sponsor of The Friends for Life Bike Rally, a Toronto-to-Montreal cycling event which raises money for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation, Canada’s largest direct provider of services and support to men women and children living with HIV/AIDS. The annual event involving 400 cyclists and crew has raised more than $9 million since its inception in 1999. Scotiabank recently renewed its sponsorship of the event for an additional three years.
About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic programme, Scotiabank Bright Future. Internationally, it focuses on charitable efforts supporting the well-being of children, particularly in health, education, arts and culture, wellness, sports and the environment. Recognised as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $44 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.
For further information: Marcelle Greenidge (246) 431-3071 marcelle.greenidge@scotiabank.com
