STAINES, England, November 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Europe, the European subsidiary of Tokyo-based
Astellas Pharma Inc, one of the world's top 20 pharmaceutical companies, can
today announce details of an Astellas Changing Tomorrow Charity Award for
Save the Children. The charity award is a funding programme designed to award
organisations that help citizens, of all communities, realise their full
potential and enhance their quality of life - both today and in the future.
The Astellas Changing Tomorrow Charity Awards complement the
company's existing ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes.
These embody a global and European commitment to supporting medical research
and education and uphold the company's strong ethical principles. Among the
main CSR-initiatives is the Astellas Pharma Europe Foundation, a registered
charity with a long-term goal of providing support for programmes and
activities that contribute to the advancement of an increasingly healthy
society.
Recent beneficiaries of the Foundation include Save the
Children UK in Liberia, who have been able to vaccinate more than 35,000
children against one of the biggest killers, measles and a further 45,000
children against other childhood diseases.
Susan Grant of Save the Children, Liberia, commented:
"The Astellas donation, spread over two years, has enabled
Save the Children, Liberia to fund a lifesaving vaccination programmes. Not
only did Save the Children and Astellas reach the target of vaccinating
35,000 children against Measles, but through Astellas's generous donation
Save the Children were able to purchase vehicles, including four motorbikes.
This transportation provided Save the Children with vital access to remote
and hard to reach rural areas, enabling us to provide basic healthcare and
vaccinate a further 45,000 children against other childhood diseases."
Mr Masao Yoshida, President and CEO of Astellas Pharma Europe
Ltd, commented:
"Astellas has taken a long-term commitment to support Save the
Children in projects that change the lives of children around the world. We
have been very happy to contribute to such a worthwhile cause vaccinating
children against deadly measles in Liberia."
Save the Children, Cyclone Nargis Myanmar (Burma) emergency
appeal was one of the four recipients of the Astellas Changing Tomorrow
Charity Awards. Cyclone Nargis tore through Myanmar (Burma) on 3rd May 2008,
killing almost 85,000 children and leaving more than 2.4 million homeless.
Save the Children immediately started to raise funds for emergency aid to
help the millions of people displaced by the devastating effect of the
cyclone.
Andrew Kirkwood, Country Director Save the Children, Myanmar
(Burma) commented:
"Astellas' support has been invaluable and the funds provided
really is saving lives and aiding the recovery of those most at need. Roads,
buildings and crops were destroyed, water supplies contaminated and schools
were brought to the ground. Children are extremely vulnerable in times of
disaster, many became separated from their parents and families leaving them
incredibly vulnerable to potentially fatal diseases - cholera, malaria,
dysentery, pneumonia, skin infections and diarrhoea - neglect, abuse and
trafficking. With Astellas' generous donation to Save the Children we were
able to reach 52,000 people in Myanmar (Burma) with essential lifesaving
health and hygiene supplies. In this case Astellas's donation has literally
saved thousands of lives."
Astellas Pharma Europe employs approximately 3,400 people in
Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa. Dedicated
to improving people's lives around the world through the introduction of
innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products, it has key strengths in the
therapy areas of Transplantation, Urology, Dermatology and Anti-infectives.
Notes to Editors
About Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd.
Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd., located in the UK, is a European subsidiary
of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company
dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the
provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The
organisation is committed to becoming a global company by combining
outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities and continuing to grow in the
world pharmaceutical market. Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. is responsible for
20 affiliate offices located across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, an
R&D site and three manufacturing plants with approximately 3,400 staff.
.gif)
