Committing to impacting the community is part of who we are at Credit Bank. This goes beyond recognition and further to true commitment to changing lives. To achieve this, various platforms are explored including partnering with well-known organisations committed to helping those in need in the society. One such organisation is Rotary International – a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers. This network aims to see a world where people unite and act to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Credit Bank recently partnered with Rotary Club of Karen to sponsor its 9^th Annual Charity Golf. Though the club is usually involved in various charity activities, this year the focus is on Cervical Cancer. This, for us at Credit Bank, is a noble cause focused on protecting women from a preventable disease. This initiative is also a further collaboration between the Rotary Club and Women 4 Cancer.

Cervical cancer can be life-threatening if it remains undetected and/or untreated. It is caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) and takes several years (even decades but may be less for immune-compromised women) for cervical cancer to develop in the body, from the onset of HPV infection in women.

According to Women 4 Cancer, cervical cancer affects more than 5,200 women in Kenya each year and more than 3,500 will die from it. This is a cause for concern as this is one of the preventable types of cancer.

Our sponsorship is focused on furthering the cause for curbing cervical cancer. This is firstly through creating awareness at the grassroots through medical camps. At the grassroots level, the initiative will educate families on the HPV vaccine for eligible girls (9-14 years) which will be rolled out at the national level. Further, women of reproductive age will be facilitated with free HPV screening kits (initially costing KES 1,120) to enable timely treatment.

You can find out more about the initiative here. For us, each swing at the golf ball was a reminder to strike out cervical cancer in Kenya.