NEW YORK, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The American Red Cross and BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) , a global medical technology company, today announced a expanded collaboration in support of the Measles Initiative, a long-term commitment by the American Red Cross and its partners to eliminate measles deaths in Africa.
The announcement was made at the TIME Global Health Summit in New York City. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the TIME Summit was created to convene leaders in medicine, government, business, public policy and the arts to develop actions and solutions to health crises. BD and the American Red Cross are co-sponsors of the TIME Summit.
BD’s expanded commitment to this initiative is estimated at approximately $1.7 million and will include cash contributions, product donations, safe injection training and additional support.
Since 1988, BD -- a global leader in safe injection -- has contributed cash and product to the American Red Cross and its affiliates for a variety of relief efforts and healthcare campaigns.
“In the past five years, The Measles Initiative has led the way in reducing measles deaths by half, thanks in large part to the support we receive from corporations like BD,” said Marsha J. Evans, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “This renewed partnership demonstrates BD’s continued commitment to addressing healthcare issues worldwide and will help us achieve our goal of preventing measles deaths in Africa.”
“We are proud to expand our relationship with the American Red Cross for the Measles Initiative,” said Edward J. Ludwig, BD Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We share the same passion of saving children’s lives by providing safe immunization. Our collaboration with the American Red Cross will leverage our core competencies to provide general support for the campaign, as well as the much needed education and training for healthcare workers and the community at large.”
About the Measles Initiative
Launched in February 2001, the Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to prevent deaths in Africa by vaccinating 200 million children and preventing 1.2 million deaths over five years. Leading this effort is the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and WHO. Other key players in the fight against measles are the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and countries and governments affected by measles. For more information about the Measles Initiative, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors- across the street, across the country and across the world-in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new-the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through almost 900 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood-the gift of life-through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of 181 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world’s most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.
About BD
BD is a global medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products. BD’s corporate purpose is “Helping all people live healthy lives.” The Company has a keen sense of social responsibility and believes that strong community relationships serve to further its purpose and progress as an organization. To learn more about BD, please visit www.bd.com.
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company); The American Red Cross
CONTACT: Colleen White, +1-201-847-5369, +1-201-310-2493 (cell),colleen_white@bd.com, or Alyssa Zeff, +1-201-847-4358, +1-917-273-3685(cell), alyssa_zeff@bd.com, both of BD; Julie Irby, American Red Cross,+1-202-439-0722 (cell), irbyj@usa.redcross.org
