Families of eleven former National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) employees were given between birr 1,000 to 1,700 in a ceremony organized at the Bank on October 27, 2011. Ato Yemane Yosseph, Vice Governor of Corporate Services, handed over the checks to the 11 HIV affected families on behalf of NBE staff. A total of birr 14,700 was provided on the day. The 11 HIV affected families were identified for support based on the size of each family, their health condition, and the income they earn.
On the occasion, the Vice Governor said NBE staff do not believe the financial support provided on the day would solve all their problems. It is rather a gesture to express the staffs concern and affection towards fellow staff members.
W/ro Hiwot Bahiru, NBE Womens Affairs Officer, on her part said visits have been made to the families to provide support as well as look into their situations with a view to decide on the kind of support that could be provided. Through such visits the committee was able to assess their needs:
- Children and elderly people unable to access medical attention,
- Children dropping out of school for lack of support
- Unemployed youth living as dependents on their families
- Children facing problems related to stationary materials, uniforms, school fee, transportation, and food Destitute .
There is also a need for auditing the finances because NBE staff who make the monthly contributions for the families would need to know whether it has reached the desired target properly, the Vice Governor said. The account reconciller is not around due to circumstances beyond control and its finances have not been reconciled for seven years. But now an account reconciller has been assigned and information is being gathered for the work to start.
NBE work place Anti-AIDS committee was established in August 1995 (Eth. C.) and had been carrying out prevention, and care and support activities since then, w/ro Hiwot said, and went on to add, it drew lessons from Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and Business Bank and drew up regulation. It identified former employees who died of AIDS in the years 1985 to 1995 (Eth. C.) and further identified those in bad need of support. And it provided eight rounds of support from 1996 to 1999(Eth. C.). Three bank employees i.e. People Living with HIV/AIDS and with very low monthly incomes, have been given support to enable them cater for their better food requirements.
It had been hoped to do better than the one delivered on the day and in the future efforts would be made to raise more funds to meet the need on the ground, Ato Yemane said.
Finally the Vice Governor expressed his appreciation of the support Change Management and Communication Directorate provided for the endeavour as well as the Committee and W/ro Hiwot, NBE Women’s Affairs Officer.
