AMREF and GlaxoSmithKline: Committed to improving health
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a research-based pharmaceutical company whose mission is to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. GSK is the only pharmaceutical company to tackle the three 'priority' diseases identified by the World Health Organization: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Background to the partnership
AMREF's partnership with GSK is our oldest and one of our strongest partnerships, with a depth and breadth of work that both organisations are extremely proud of. This has included projects tackling malaria and HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda as well as the hugely successful PHASE methodolgy developed between GSK and AMREF to improve hygiene and sanitation for thousands of school children and which is now being adopted into the school curriculum by Afric
an governments.
GSK's Chief Executive, Andrew Witty, has proved himself to be an extremely commited and loyal supporter of AMREF and has not only been to visit our work in Africa but has also run the London Marathon in support of all the work that we do. And running was on the agenda for all of GSK when they helped put on a fantastic 'Run for Africa' event for all their staff, friends and families raising £50,000.
GSK have also lent us some of their best staff through their PULSE Volunteer Partnership initiative, which sees them loan their skilled professionals to non profit organisations like AMREF so that we can benefit from their skills and knowledge for as much as six months.
“ With AMREF, we have built malaria prevention and education programmes; a schools-based programme to educate schoolchildren about the importance of hand washing and other hygiene practices; and a programme to address the fear, stigmatisation, discrimination and lack of knowledge that surround HIV and AIDS and stop people coming forward for testing, care and treatment. AMREF understands Africa and we are very happy to work with the UK-based staff who know the programmes and what we are trying to achieve.”
Justine Frain – VP Global Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline
PROJECT IN FOCUS: Community based malaria programme in Tandahimba, southern Tanzania
Malaria is a disease associated with poverty, and remains a major public health problem. In Tanzania, malaria accounts for over 30% of the national disease burden and is responsible for over a third of all deaths of children u
nder five.
GSK is supporting AMREF tackle this problem and our most recent collaborative project is focused on helping the rural and under-served communities of Tandahimba in southern Tanzania. Here, they not only face the real threat of dying from malaria, they also face inadequate and distant health services and an incomplete knowledge of the disease and how to prevent and treat it.
AMREF is working with the communities to help mobilise them in becoming the frontline in the fight against malaria, using drama, cultural groups, information materials and village health days to spread the message and dispel the cultural beliefs that prevent some people from seeking treatment. AMREF are also training community health workers to work alongside the government’s efforts to eliminate the disease. Over three years it is hoped the project will reach over 40,000 people, improving their knowledge, awareness and chances of survival from malaria.