Commits Grant to HopeXchange Medical Center in Sub-Saharan Africa
IRVING, Texas - Tuesday, July 19th 2011 [ME NewsWire]
Establishes new site for malaria treatment, prevention and clinical trials of anti-malaria drugs
Reflects ExxonMobil’s decade-long commitment to malaria that has helped 40 million people, mostly in Africa
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As part of its continued effort to combat the devastating impact of malaria on populations in sub-Saharan Africa, the ExxonMobil Foundation announced today a donation of $500,000 to establish a malaria diagnostic laboratory for the HopeXchange Medical Center at its health facility in Kumasi, Ghana.
ExxonMobil’s contribution will provide HopeXchange, an institution dedicated to malaria prevention and treatment, with resources to improve malaria diagnosis. The center will also serve as a site for clinical trials of anti-malarial drugs using internationally recognized best clinical practices.
“Improved malaria diagnosis is critical to decreasing mortality rates of this preventable disease,” said Suzanne McCarron, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation. “We are committed to fighting malaria, and with our support, the Center’s new diagnostic laboratory will make life-saving treatments more accessible and readily available.”
Though there have been improvements in diagnosis and treatment over the past decade, malaria remains a global threat affecting millions of people. An estimated 800,000 people die every year from malaria, most of them children under the age of 5. The disease accounts for about 40 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's health expenditures and costs an estimated $12 billion in lost productivity annually.
“ExxonMobil has been a leader in the fight against malaria,” said Mario Cappello, president and CEO of HopeXchange. “Its contribution is a powerful example of a partnership that connects not only resources, but also valuable business expertise in the global fight.”
Since 2000, ExxonMobil has committed more than $100 million for programs to fight malaria. The company supports a wide range of prevention, treatment and advocacy programs to end deaths from this disease. ExxonMobil’s funding supports partners who help improve the delivery and use of prevention tools such as bed nets; provide technical assistance to help countries increase their capacity to control malaria; and facilitate the monitoring and promotion of progress through integrated communications programs.
About HopeXchange Medical Center
HopeXchange Medical Center works to strengthen healthcare systems in sub-Saharan Africa through the development of innovative and replicable models. At its clinic in Kumasi, Ghana, HopeXchange addresses key African health issues including infectious diseases, maternal-child concerns and cancer as well as specialized medical interests such as ophthalmology, cranio-facial malformations and diseases of the endocrine system. The HopeXchange clinic operates with the full endorsement of the Office of the President of Ghana, the Ghanaian Ministry of Health, and key medical, educational, civic and religious organizations in the country. More information about the HopeXchange Medical Center is available at www.hopexchangemedicalcenter.org.
About ExxonMobil Foundation
ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) in the United States. The Foundation and the Corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. Globally, ExxonMobil provides funding to improve basic education, promote women as catalysts for development, and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2010, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation, its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $237 million in contributions worldwide. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.
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