Health insurer Cigna has launched a European corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to support Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) in its mission to provide medical and nutritional aid where it is needed most.
The first project, voted for by Cigna employees, will focus on providing treatment to 256 children suffering from severe malnutrition in Nigeria.
This will involve around five weeks of outpatient treatment and medical monitoring of the children, helping them to recover their nutritional status and proper development.
Elena Martínez, from Doctors Without Borders, people who fled north eastern Nigeria are hugely dependent on international aid to survive.
“Having the support of organisations like Cigna allows us to provide the humanitarian medical assistance so desperately needed,” she explained.
Phil Austin (pictured), chief executive of Cigna Europe, added: “This is a hugely rewarding project to be involved in and is something our entire European workforce have come together to show their support for. The work Doctors Without Borders carry out around the world to help those who suffer medical and nutritional care exclusion is of immeasurable value and contributing to this cause is a real honour.”
Further projects will follow in 2019 and beyond.