Scotia Charity Golf to aid Family Planning Association

Carlene Seudat, Director of Scotiabank Foundation, thanked corporate TT for getting on board and believes the (FPATT ) is a worthy cause to contribute to as their work involves providing info and a myriad of services to women involving contraceptions, pap smears, sexually transmitted diseases and breast examinations. She explained that her company chooses to focus on issues that affect women because they often neglect their well-being because of the various roles in society and the home.

“Women really have not been able to keep up with the change in lifestyle that has occurred because of their various roles. Women don’t really make time for themselves even though it’s so very important.

Scotiabank and Scotiabank Foundation are committed to supporting women’s causes and engaging in our communities...We look forward to helping the FPATT continue its much needed work and we encourage other sponsors to come on board,” she said.

Dona Da Costa Martinez, Executive Director, Family Planning, was present and hailed the support of Scotiabank to their efforts in promoting sexual and reproductive health which they believe will benefit the country.

She explained that FPATT reaches over 50 low-income communities with the aim of preventing irresponsible sexual behaviour, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and infanticides.

“This intervention results in decreased pressure on the social and economic systems of the country.

At present, FPATT hosts clinics in communities including Barrackpore, Brazil, Moruga, La Horquetta.

D’Abadie, Laventille, Longdenville, Marabella, St Augustine, San Francique, Talparo, Tunapuna and Woodbrook,” she said.

Giving figures, the FPATT Director indicated that between 2012 and 2016, the organisation provided 35,103 sexual and reproductive health services.

She stressed that there is a need to assist more rural communities but this is hampered by limited resources. In 2013, FPATT introduced the “Give a gift of health initiative” which encourages the corporate sector to donate $5,000 to help prevent and treat cervical cancer in women in a particular area.

Stirred by the initiative, Shadia Wharton-Lake, Business Development Manager for Rentokil, immediately signed a cheque to Family Planning and handed it over after yesterday’s ceremony.

Robert Llanos, General Manager, St Andrew’s Golf Club, explained that the tournament will be played via the two-ball better ball format where teams of two compete with the best net score of the two players selected on each hole and then converted to points. He reminisced on how the tournament was conceptualised and believes it has now become a staple.

“This tournament started 18 years ago by a long-standing member Roger Henderson who was also a past employee of Scotiabank. It didn’t take much convincing to get our (St Andrew’s Golf Club) ladies section on board. It first started as a ladies-only golf tournament but grew in popularity and (gained) a lot of interest by the male members who became jealous and wanted to get involved,” he said. Llanos said it has now become one of the top events on the golf calender with men and women from clubs around the country competing with the goal of raising funds for charity.