FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Aug. 27, 2015 – BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, has committed $700,000 in aid to assist those affected by the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal, including nearly $80,000 through a special matching gift campaign that matched dollar-for-dollar some $40,000 in donations made by BD associates around the world.
BD committed $700,000 in cash and product donations to assist those affected by the natural disaster. BD’s commitment is being shared among six of its Trusted Partners – AmeriCares, Direct Relief, Heart to Heart International, Project HOPE, Save the Children and UNICEF. This commitment includes $50,000 in matching funds to match donations made by BD associates to AmeriCares and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. With a 100 percent BD match, associates’ $18,000 in contributions to UNICEF yielded $36,000, and donations of $21,400 to AmeriCares resulted in $42,800.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the South Asian nation of Nepal on April 25, toppling buildings and triggering avalanches in the Himalayas. According to the U.S. government, the earthquake killed more than 9,000 people and injured more than 23,000. Some 8 million people in Nepal and surrounding regions were affected by the quake and aftershocks have disrupted relief and recovery efforts.
As has occurred in other major earthquakes in which BD and its Trusted Partners have responded – such as Haiti – the Nepal quake simultaneously created a huge spike in need for emergency health services while destroying much of the already-inadequate health care infrastructure, as well as devastating the country’s general infrastructure (roads, power, water) needed for the recovery and relief effort.
Given its proximity to Nepal, AmeriCares India served a critical role to bring supplies, relief workers (including medical personnel and logistics experts) to Nepal and coordinate aid delivery. The agency mounted one of its most significant disaster management efforts and collaborated closely with BD India to provide emergency medical and primary care, ensure access to critical medicines and supplies and re-establish health services in impacted areas.
About BD
BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of health care by developing innovative technology, services and solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and clinical process for health care providers. BD and its 65,000 employees have a passion and commitment to help enhance the safety and efficiency of clinicians' care delivery process, enable laboratory scientists to accurately detect disease and advance researchers' capabilities to develop the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics. BD has a presence in virtually every country and partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. By working in close collaboration with customers, BD can help enhance outcomes, lower costs, increase efficiencies, improve safety and expand access to health care. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com
For more information on BD, please visit bd.com.