Ecobank Ghana supports medical students to study abroad

Ecobank Ghana in collaboration with partners have provided sponsorship for 16 medical students to undertake Student Exchange Programme abroad to enhance their capabilities and help improve healthcare delivery in the country.

The gesture, which forms part of the institution’s Corporate Social Responsibility, was also targeted at easing the burden of financial expenses of the medical students as they seek to gain exposure outside the country.

The package from partners, including Old Mutual, Emirates and Woodin, comprise $1,000 dollar spending money from Ecobank; a Medical and Emergency Assistance cover of 30,000.00 Euros each and Hospitalisation abroad; and Emergency Medical Evacuation, 6,600.00 Euros for Repatriation of Policy holder’s mortal remains; and a one economy class one-way ticket.

It also included an Emergency Dental Expenses, Personal Assistance Service and a Personal Accident Cover, clothing amongst others.

Mr Daniel Sackey, the Managing Director (MD) for Ecobank Ghana, said the health care of citizens is imperative since it has an impact on employees, employers, local communities and the nation at large.

He said good health enabled the individual to work and earn income to support their families, guaranteed high productivity for employers, as well as enabled nations to generate and accumulate wealth.

Mr Sackey said the bank has over the years provided financial support to selected medical students to partly fund their travel abroad.

“To date we have supported over 120 students, last year we provided sponsorship packages to students of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and University of Ghana (UG)”, he said.

“This year we have extended the programme to cover University of Cape Coast (UCC) and University for Development Studies”.

The MD urged the beneficiaries to take the opportunity with a teachable spirit to ensure that they returned with a great insight that would propel them be agents of change.

“We are all aware of most of the healthcare challenges that face us as a nation, particularly for the less privileged and vulnerable sections. We are hopeful that our young student doctors will take this opportunity to learn and will become future advocates for an all-inclusive medical health system in Ghana”, he said.

Mr Sackey urged them to strive to maintain the highest of standards in the profession, especially in areas patient care, by treating all with dignity.

Mr Othniel Kumassah, Head of Bancassurance at Old Mutual Ghana, said the company, as part of its Responsible Business programme is playing meaningful roles to the growth and development of the communities, especially where it operated.

“This year, we have a special focus on education, and as such the opportunity to partner with Ecobank is exciting for us”.

“Our partnership with Ecobank took off in the year 2015 and as at today we have close to 30,000 policies on books. This has been built on mutual trust and cooperation in all aspects of the relationship as well as evidenced even on this collaboration”, Mr Kumassah said.

He reiterated the company’s readiness in ensuring that its customers and partners achieved their lifetime financial goals.