On Saturday, 13 December, the city and province of Maputo were the stage for a gesture of generosity and solidarity by Banco Comercial e de Investimentos (BCI). Employees of the institution spread smiles, games and affection in the paediatric wards of the Mavalane and Machava General Hospitals, José Macamo Hospital and Maputo Provincial Hospital, bringing light to those who, for health reasons, found themselves deprived of the comfort of home.
These activities are part of BCI's Social Responsibility Programme and reflect a well-established tradition, particularly marked during the festive season. Across the country, the institution brought comfort, joy and hope to thousands of children in public hospitals, extending its warmth also to the companions who, at their side, endure long days of waiting and anxiety.
BCI's gesture goes beyond the simple delivery of material goods. Solidarity hampers and gifts were accompanied by personal attention and moments of sharing, led by volunteer employees who travelled to the hospitals. There, amid simple gestures and affectionate words, the children were given back the joy and lightness that illness and hospitalisation so often do not allow.
The activities began on 29 November and took in hospitals in every province of the country, including the Provincial Hospitals of Xai-Xai, Inhambane, Chimoio, Nampula, Pemba and Tete, as well as the Central Hospitals of Beira, Quelimane, Nampula and Lichinga, and the Nacala Porto District Hospital. It was a journey that reflected BCI's desire to be present in every corner of Mozambique, reaffirming its commitment to social well-being and corporate citizenship.
For the Chairman of BCI's Executive Committee, Francisco Costa, “more than the hampers or the gifts, what we wish to offer is a moment of genuine joy. May this gesture bring a smile and a happy memory to every child. On these visits, we receive far more than we give. The courage of these children inspires us. Our wish is that this moment of affection and play will bring relief, change the rhythm of the day and remind everyone, children and companions alike, that the community is with them, cheering for their full recovery.”
In every hospital, BCI's presence was met with words of gratitude from the management and health teams, who are surprised year after year by the creativity, renewed energy and human dedication that characterise these activities. More than an act of solidarity, it is a living expression of humanism and closeness, which transforms, if only for a few moments, the hospital routine and restores hope to those who need it most.
With this initiative, BCI shows, from north to south of the country, that social responsibility is an intrinsic part of its institutional culture, reaffirming its commitment to the most vulnerable communities, particularly children, and promoting values of citizenship, affection and empathy that echo far beyond the hospital corridors.
