GSK receives BITC CommunityMark for global community programmes

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today became one of the first companies to be awarded the new CommunityMark by the UK organisation Business in the Community (BITC)*. GSK was assessed alongside some the UK’s largest retailers, banks, and professional services firms and following a rigorous selection and review process becomes the only manufacturing company to receive the award.

The CommunityMark is BITC’s newest initiative and sets a standard that recognises the best company’s with regard to their investment in the community. It is the only award of its kind in the UK and is endorsed by the Government and voluntary sector leaders.

The Mark has been given to GSK for work at a local and national level in the UK as well as larger international programmes. GSK can use the CommunityMark for three years and then apply for it to be renewed.

Andrew Witty Chief Executive of GlaxoSmithKline said: “Improving the lives of patients in communities around the world is at the heart of our work at GSK. The combined efforts of developing innovative medicines and vaccines alongside our work with communities can have a genuine impact on society.

“The rigorous assessment process employed by BITC makes the recognition of our long term commitment to community investment all the more significant. We are proud to have been awarded the CommunityMark."

The CommunityMark assessment process included demonstrating to the review panel that GSK has a long-term, high-level commitment to community investment. Specific examples include GSK’s flagship programmes for Lymphatic Filariasis, Positive Action for HIV/AIDS and PHASE, the hygiene education programme for children.The panel also interviewed many of our community partners and employee volunteers.

GSK receives BITC CommunityMark for global community programmes

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today became one of the first companies to be awarded the new CommunityMark by the UK organisation Business in the Community (BITC)*. GSK was assessed alongside some the UK’s largest retailers, banks, and professional services firms and following a rigorous selection and review process becomes the only manufacturing company to receive the award.

The CommunityMark is BITC’s newest initiative and sets a standard that recognises the best company’s with regard to their investment in the community. It is the only award of its kind in the UK and is endorsed by the Government and voluntary sector leaders.

The Mark has been given to GSK for work at a local and national level in the UK as well as larger international programmes. GSK can use the CommunityMark for three years and then apply for it to be renewed.

Andrew Witty Chief Executive of GlaxoSmithKline said: “Improving the lives of patients in communities around the world is at the heart of our work at GSK. The combined efforts of developing innovative medicines and vaccines alongside our work with communities can have a genuine impact on society.

“The rigorous assessment process employed by BITC makes the recognition of our long term commitment to community investment all the more significant. We are proud to have been awarded the CommunityMark."

The CommunityMark assessment process included demonstrating to the review panel that GSK has a long-term, high-level commitment to community investment. Specific examples include GSK’s flagship programmes for Lymphatic Filariasis, Positive Action for HIV/AIDS and PHASE, the hygiene education programme for children.The panel also interviewed many of our community partners and employee volunteers.

HIV and AIDS

Glaxo
Supporting the community responseThe world has been confronting AIDS for over 25 years. In that time over 20 million people have died and another 33 million are estimated to be living with HIV today.

Although we understand how HIV transmission can be prevented, and antiretroviral (ARV) treatments have dramatically extended life for some, there is still no cure, no vaccine, and no short cut to accessing effective healthcare for the millions affected who live with poverty, stigma and little care or support.

We established Positive Action in 1992, an early recognition of the pivotal role played by communities in responding to the world's HIV and AIDS epidemics. Since then the programme has supported projects that strengthen these communities' responses and encourage greater involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS.

Positive Action has enabled:

• 8,000 community and healthcare workers to be trained in East Africa
• 40,000 community delegates to participate at regional and international conferences
• 70 clinics in Kenya to develop their community links to improve ARV provision
• 8,500 healthcare professionals in 173 countries to have access to HIV and AIDS training toolkits
• 100 policemen in central Mexico to receive human rights training
• Prevention messages for 3 million women and family members in rural India by 2008

Positive Action at International AIDS Conferences
GlaxoSmithKline’s Positive Action was the principal sponsor of the Global Village at AIDS2006. The Global Village was an interactive and participatory community space that aimed to engage, challenge and inspire. It was the first point of contact for delegates as they entered the conference venue each day and it was also open to the general public.

In addition to its support for the Global Village, Positive Action and our partners hosted a number of community forums and skills-building workshops where community delegates could share experiences, learning from each other and from experts to increase their effectiveness and ability to respond to the changing epidemic and socio-political environment.

Following on from the success in Canada Positive Action is looking forward to supporting the AIDS2008 conference in Mexico.

The malaria challenge

Every year up to 500 million people are affected by malaria and over one million die from it. Most people affected live in sub-Saharan Africa, one of the world’s poorest regions. Children and pregnant women are most at risk with one African child dying from malaria every 30 seconds. Beyond the human toll, malaria consumes nearly half of public health expenditure in endemic countries and costs billions of dollars a year in lost productivity.

But this disease is preventable and curable if treated promptly with effective medicines. We are committed to stopping this disease. Our endeavours include research and development for a vaccine to protect children in endemic communities, new drugs to treat infections plus vital community education and advocacy programmes.

Many of those living in endemic areas don’t realise how the disease is spread, or that it can be prevented. They believe local myths – that it is caused by too much exposure to the sun, eating too many mangoes or by possession of evil spirits. By educating people about malaria we can significantly improve prevention, encourage prompt treatment and reduce the number of people affected by the disease.

Source : Glaxo News

Range of tactics can help couch potatoes get moving

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - No more excuses for staying sedentary -- new research shows that a variety of tricks and tools, from motivational programs to scheduling workouts to suit a busy life, can get people off the couch.

Walking is a form of exercise that most people can manage. Experts generally recommend that adults get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week, with a brisk walk being one of the simplest ways to reach that goal.

"But the issue has been how to get people to do that," said Dr. David Williams of Brown Medical School and the Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. "More importantly," how do you get people to keep exercising?

Williams and his colleagues reviewed 14 clinical trials that have tested various strategies for getting sedentary people to start walking.

Among the ones showing promise are "non-face-to-face" interventions where people get phone calls or online help to motivate them to exercise, the researchers report in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Only a handful of studies have been done, but such interventions have the potential to reach a broad audience -- and make it more practical for busy people to get exercise advice, Williams told Reuters Health.

So far, studies suggest that quick phone calls prompting people to get off the couch are as effective as more-involved counseling over the phone. "It seems to be the frequency of the phone calls that matters most, rather than the content," Williams said.

Web-based programs -- where people fill out online questionnaires then receive individualized exercise advice, plus tips via email -- have also shown promise.

When it comes to the most effective walking "prescriptions," Williams and his colleagues found, it seems that high-frequency, moderate-intensity beats lower-frequency, high-intensity. Exercisers generally fare better walking at a moderate pace, 5 to 7 days a week, rather than striving for an intense pace a few times per week.

"Over time, people tend to walk more," Williams said.

Another tactic for the newly active is to break up their workouts into shorter bouts throughout the day -- such as three 10-minute walks instead of 30 minutes all at once. In the end, studies show, people generally get just as much exercise taking the short-bout route.

It could help people with limited time fit exercise into their lives, Williams said.

He also recommended that new exercisers tell their family, friends and co-workers about their lifestyle change. Having support for your exercise efforts can help, particularly if someone else becomes your "walking buddy," Williams noted.

Finally, people should be aware that when they first become active, they may not experience that storied runner's (or walker's) "high," Williams pointed out. In fact, exercise often feels less than pleasurable initially.

However, Williams said, many people feel good once the workout is over. And over time, the activity itself becomes enjoyable.

"If you stick with it," he said, "that's when you're likely to have the mood benefits you always hear about."

SOURCE: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, July 2008

Most Admired Company

Indonesia – PT Bayer Indonesia has once again been named the Most Admired Company in the category of Pharmaceuticals (including Consumer Care).

This is the fifth year that Bayer has won the Most Admired Company award. Bayer has come up tops based on an independent survey done by Business Week Indonesia and Frontier Consulting Group.

Mr Hans-Josef Schill, President Director of PT Bayer Indonesia said, “This Award firmly shows the confidence the public has for Bayer in Indonesia. I am very proud of my team here in PT Bayer Indonesia.”

The survey was participated by some 1,550 journalists, investors, middle and upper level executives as well as members of the public who ranked Bayer based on 10 reputation criteria reflecting quality, performance, responsiveness and attractiveness aspects.

The official awarding night will be held in June. Congratulations to PT Bayer Indonesia!