Becton, Dickinson and Company and the International Council of Nurses collaborate to address the health human resource crisis in Africa

Franklin Lakes, NJ and Geneva, Switzerland (30 November 2006) — Becton, Dickinson and Company and the International Council of Nurses(ICN) announced today a multi-year initiative to provide health and wellness services to health care providers working on the front lines in several African nations.

In sub-Saharan Africa, healthcare systems are experiencing a severe scarcity of healthcare workers, due to the HIV pandemic, migration and very difficult working conditions. This human capacity crisis is colliding with the overwhelming health care needs of the region, weakening already fragile systems, challenged in delivering both basic and life-saving health services. Together, Becton, Dickinson and Company and ICN are working with national nurses associations in sub-Saharan Africa to help strengthen and revitalize these systems through wellness centers providing care for healthcare workers who, in turn, will be ableto better care for their patients and communities.

The collaboration between Becton, Dickinson and Company and ICN focuses on the development of wellness centers to provide comprehensive health services for these vital health care workers and their immediate families. The ultimate goal is to provide funding and material necessary to sustain a healthy, motivated and productive health care work force, leading to a strengthened healthcare delivery system in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that the program will reach 40,000 health care workers and their immediate families.

“By helping those who help others, we move one step closer to ourgoal of increasing access to care for all HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Gary Cohen, Executive Vice President, Becton, Dickinson and Company. “The wellness centers will give these critical health care workers the tools they need to effectively care for themselves and their families.”

The first-ever Wellness Centre for Healthcare Workers was officiallyopened in September 2006 in Manzini, Swaziland, and is run by the Swaziland Nurses Association. It has been held up as a model of good practiceby many global organizations, including the World Health Organization and Physicians for Human Rights. The Centre is also being provided supportby the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the national nurses association of Denmark.

“In offering quality, confidential health care services responsive to the needs of Swaziland’s healthcare workers and their families we will also address the severe health human resources crisis affecting Swaziland and much of sub-Saharan Africa,” stated Masitsela Mhlanga, President of the Swaziland Nurses Association. “These centers and services must also be rolled out to the rest of the country, and we are grateful for the pledge of support from Becton, Dickinson and Company.”

Following Swaziland, wellness centers will also be developed for healthcareproviders in Lesotho, Zambia and Malawi. They will be led and managed by the ICN member national nurses associations in those countries, in partnership with ICN and with the support of the country’s Ministry of Health. The program will offer a range of services, including testing, counseling and treatment for HIV and TB; antenatal services, including Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTC); stress management; post exposureprophylaxis; screening for chronic conditions and a training and resource/knowledge center for continuous professional development.

“Nurses and other health care workers in sub-Saharan Africa are affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic at the same devastating rate as the general population, but have the additional burden of the care and treatment of the sick in extremely difficult working conditions,” said Judith Oulton, ICN’s Chief Executive Officer. “We hope these centers will address the issues faced by health care workers who are over stressed,under valued, and often at risk for infection.”

As part of this initiative Becton, Dickinson and Company will:

• Commit $120,000 in cash support to the ICN to help fund local wellness centers;
• Include ICN in its awareness and advocacy efforts as part of BD’s Trusted Partners campaign, providing ICN with promotional materials, journal ads and general awareness materials.
• Work with ICN to promote good clinical practices training at the wellness centers, estimated at a value of more than $200,000 over the next three years and focusing on hands-on training for safe injection and safe blood draw.

Editor’s note

About the International Council of Nurses: The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of national nurses associations in 129 countries and represents the more than 13 million nurses working worldwide. Founded in 1899, ICN is the first and widest reaching international organization for health professionals and works to ensure quality care for people everywhere. Through its three main program areas — regulation, professional practice and socioeconomic welfare — ICN focuses on advancing nursing and health worldwide, while working on the ground with its members to advance development and contribute directly to the Millennium Development Goals.

The Swaziland, Lesotho, Zambian and Malawi Nurses Associations are valued members of ICN and partners in many important areas including, the Wellness Centres for Healthcare Workers program; the ICN/MSD Mobile Nursing Library initiative for nurses serving populations in remote areas; the Girl Child Education Fund putting orphan girls back to school; malaria and TB training programs; and the nursing library for refugee health.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company: Becton, Dickinson and Company, a leading global medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents, is dedicated to improving people’s health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug therapy, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases, and advancing research and discovery of new drugs and vaccines. The Company’s capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world’s most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs more than 25,000 people in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves health care institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

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