ExxonMobil Supports Rwanda Malaria Outreach Program
Bicycles donated to community health workers Improved transportation will broaden community outreach and impact Program in partnership with Malaria No More and Project Rwanda
RUKARA, Rwanda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ExxonMobil, in partnership with Malaria No More and Project Rwanda, announced the Bikes for Rukara project today in Rwanda.
The program will provide bicycles to community health workers at the Rukara Health Facility, a faith-based operation in partnership with the government of Rwanda, to help reach more families with their life-saving malaria prevention programs. Bikes for Rukara is part of ExxonMobil's commitment to supporting organizations working to combat malaria.
ExxonMobil's Medical Director for Global Health Issues, Dr. Steven Phillips, is in Rwanda as part of a United Nations delegation to examine the role of faith-based institutions in helping to control malaria and was at the launch of the bicycle project.
"We are proud to be supporting the Rukara Health Facility, whose efforts have demonstrated the effectiveness of malaria prevention and treatment programs," said Phillips. "These bicycles will increase the health workers' abilities to significantly broaden community outreach and impact."
Rukara is viewed as a model by the Rwandan government for tackling global health issues.
John Bridgeland, Vice Chairman of Malaria No More, Senior Advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Malaria, and Board member of the Center for Interfaith Action, learned of the community health workers' need for bicycles to visit more homes in their village and surrounding villages to expand their network.
ExxonMobil is spending $10,000 to distribute bicycles to the community health workers supporting the company's goal to strengthen the ability of Africans to stop the spread of malaria.
ExxonMobil is the largest non-pharmaceutical corporate donor to malaria research and development efforts, and since 2000 has committed $130 million to Africa community outreach programs, including $54 million on programs to fight malaria. The company established its Africa Health Initiative in 2000 in support of the Abuja Declaration on Roll Back Malaria in Africa and its goal to halve malaria deaths by 2010. Since then, ExxonMobil has developed on-the-ground public-private partnerships to fight malaria at the community level, progress treatment and vaccine research and raise awareness and international support, and contributes to anti-malaria efforts in more than 20 African countries.
About ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to find better, safer and cleaner ways to provide energy to support development and improved living standards around the world. 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 and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2008, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $225 million in contributions worldwide, of which more than $89 million was dedicated to education. Additional information on ExxonMobil's community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.
About Malaria No More
Malaria No More is determined to end malaria deaths in Africa - and it's helping the world get it done. Using breakthrough communications, global advocacy and smart investments, Malaria No More works to reach its goal: providing universal access to malaria interventions by the end of 2010 and ending deaths by 2015. Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria, but a simple net can save lives. Find out how you can help at www.MalariaNoMore.org.
About Project Rwanda
Project Rwanda, www.projectrwanda.org, is committed to furthering the economic development of Rwanda through initiatives based on the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope. Project Rwanda develops and distributes cargo bikes to help boost the Rwandan economy as well as promote Rwanda as a beautiful and safe place to do business and visit freely.
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Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation
Released June 26, 2009