VISION GROUP | WANYAMA | MARATHON

KAMPALA - Vision Group has pledged to inject sh150m into the forthcoming MTN Kampala Marathon 2022.

Vision Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Don Wanyama says the commitment is in line with Vision Group's corporate social responsibility programme. 

Wanyama made the revelations during the launch of the marathon at the MTN Uganda head offices in Kampala city Monday, October 10, 2022.

"Our mantra is we believe in creating and distributing content that advances society and we believe that at the heart of this marathon is advancement of society," Wanyama said.

Return after a two-year break

The marathon, which is slated for November 20, 2022, returns after a two-year break due to the COVID-19-induced restrictions that rendered it untenable to be held.

MTN Uganda launched the marathon together with its partners, Huawei, Stanbic bank, Vision Group, Rwenzori, NBS TV and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) under the theme: Run for Babies.

The proceeds of this year's marathon are expected to go to saving the lives of mothers and newborn babies.

Sylvia Mulenga, the new MTN CEO, said this will be a continuation of the enormous achievements the marathon has had over the years since its inception in 2004.

"The proceeds of this year's marathon shall be used by the MTN Foundation to equip and further improve maternal and neonatal health facilities to save the lives of mothers and babies," Mulenga said.

Maternal deaths increased during pandemic

According to the health ministry's Health Management System, maternal deaths in Uganda increased by 10.4%, from 1,089 in 2019 to 1,202 in 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the United Nations Population Fund Uganda, in some districts like Kampala, maternal deaths almost doubled across the two years from 97 in 2019 to 185 in 2020 with the majority (64%) of these being reported at Kawempe National Referral Hospital.

Therefore, it is believed that the marathon will go a long way in cutting the number of mothers who die in labour in the country.