Barclays Bank raises Shs80 million for children with cancer

Mr Abhinav Singh receives a dummy air ticket to South Africa. This was after he won a mock draw organised by Billion Lotto in support of children suffering from cancer. Photo by J. Bahingwire

What you need to know:

  • Dr Miriam Apiyo, a paediatric specialist at Case Medical Centre in Kampala, applauded the efforts in the fight against cancer saying it has become one of the major killer diseases globally and hence the need for concerted efforts from every one to fight it.
  • Through a mock raffle draw organised by Billion Lotto, Shs40m was raised in cash and Barclays Bank doubled it to Shs80m which will be donated to Bless a Child Foundation.

Kampala. Barclays Bank Uganda, through their annual bless a child dinner, raised Shs80 million for Bless a Child Foundation, an organisation that takes care of children suffering from cancer.
Speaking at the event held at Sheraton Kampala Hotel on Thursday, the managing director Barclays Bank Uganda, Mr Rakesh Jha, said the initiative is intended to express support to the organisation for their efforts in supporting needy children suffering from cancer.

He said this is also a way of giving back to the community to show that they are not only concerned with banking but the lives of the people in society as well.
“In the past seven years Barclays Bank has injected more than Shs300 million in the fight against cancer. Tonight we are here to express our solidarity with the young people who are suffering from cancer,” he added.
Dr Miriam Apiyo, a paediatric specialist at Case Medical Centre in Kampala, applauded the efforts in the fight against cancer saying it has become one of the major killer diseases globally and hence the need for concerted efforts from every one to fight it.

She said more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer globally and 90,000 of them die before their 15th birth day with the majority in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“More than 80 per cent of the children dying of cancer are in Sub-Saharan Africa although most of these cancers can be treated. The survival rate of children below five years is at 85 per cent if treated early,” Dr Apiyo added.
Through a mock raffle draw organised by Billion Lotto, Shs40m was raised in cash and Barclays Bank doubled it to Shs80m which will be donated to Bless a Child Foundation.