FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. and OLATHE, Kan., June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/
— BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:
BDX), a leading global medical technology company, and Heart to
Heart International, a humanitarian medical aid nonprofit
organization, announced a joint volunteer initiative to strengthen
healthcare in Haiti. A team of 13 BD associates from around
the world have volunteered to travel to Haiti for three weeks and
work with Heart to Heart partners at medical clinics to improve the
country’s ability to provide healthcare services for its people.
“Over the years that BD has been sending volunteers to
underserved regions such as Haiti, we have learned a great deal
about what works best to improve healthcare conditions in these
environments – most notably, partnering with excellent
on-the-ground organizations such as Heart to Heart,” said Edward J.
Ludwig, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BD. “Through the BD
Volunteer Service Trip Program, we’re able to leverage the medical
expertise of our employees with the in-country knowledge of Heart
to Heart’s staff to ‘build back better’ healthcare for Haitians.
Our commitment to Haiti’s recovery reflects BD’s purpose of
‘Helping all people live healthy lives.’”
Following the January 2010 earthquake, BD immediately committed
$5 million in product donations to assist in the relief and
recovery efforts. To date, BD has sent more than $3.9 million in
product donations to Haiti. Heart to Heart has deployed
nearly 400 medical volunteers in Haiti, delivered more than $37.5
million (U.S. wholesale) worth of life-saving medical aid, and
treated nearly 70,000 people — approximately 2,500 weekly
— at clinical sites in Port-au-Prince, Leogane and Fondwa.
The BD volunteers are working with medical staff from these
locations to build on their existing patient care service
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