ExxonMobil Funds $3.1 Million Maternal and Child Health Initiative in Papua New Guinea
- PNG LNG Project partnering with Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine
- Program will strengthen education and training in maternal and pediatric health care
- Intended to improve progress in reducing infant mortality rates
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), on behalf of the PNG LNG Project, today announced a $3.1 million, two-year initiative intended to improve maternal health and reduce child mortality rates in Papua New Guinea. The program, which began this month, is led by Texas Children’s Hospital and its partner, the Baylor College of Medicine, both based in Houston.
“This program will enable mothers and children of Papua New Guinea to benefit from the world-class expertise of Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine,” said Neil Duffin, president of ExxonMobil Development Company. “It is our belief that the work done through the program will help ensure improved health for the future generations of the country.”
Program funding supports the deployment of specialist doctors to the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Doctors are providing teaching support with the goal of strengthening the education and training of both current and future health care professionals.
Michael Mizwa, chief operating officer and senior vice president of Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children’s Hospital, said the initiative will continue to build the capacity of the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Sciences’ medical education and training in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology and public health.
“Ultimately, our hope is that this program will measurably improve the methods and delivery of maternal and children’s health services in Papua New Guinea,” Mizwa said.
Significant progress has been made in the past decade to reduce infant mortality rates in Papua New Guinea. Those rates, however, remain high when compared with other countries in the region.
About ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is the largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products, and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world. 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 2012, together with its employees and retirees, ExxonMobil, its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $256 million in contributions worldwide. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contribution programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.
About PNG LNG
The PNG LNG Project is an integrated development that includes gas production and processing facilities, onshore and offshore pipelines and liquefaction facilities. Participating interests are affiliates of Exxon Mobil Corporation (including Esso Highlands Limited as operator), Oil Search Limited, National Petroleum Company Papua New Guinea, Santos Limited, JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration, Mineral Resources Development Company and Petromin PNG Holdings Limited. Visit pnglng.com.
About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to creating a community of healthy children through excellence in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the U.S., Texas Children’s has recognized Centers of Excellence in multiple pediatric subspecialties including the Cancer and Heart Centers, and operates one of the largest primary pediatric care networks in the world. For more information on Texas Children's, go to www.texaschildrens.org.
Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine is recognized as a premier academic health science center and is known for excellence in education, research and patient care. For more information on the Baylor College of Medicine, go to www.bcm.edu.
ExxonMobil
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Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation
Released December 2, 2013