COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – May 17, 2016 – Today, at the Women Deliver conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, GBCHealth announced Johnson & Johnson as the winner of the 2016 Women and Girls Business Action on Health Award for the company’s innovative partnerships to prevent and treat obstetric fistula.
GBCHealth honors companies that have demonstrated leadership and commitment to improving global health through the implementation of high-impact, evidence-based health programs. Winners are determined through a rigorous evaluation process led by an internationally respected external panel of judges – composed of experts from across government, multilateral, NGO, academia and business sectors. “We’re proud to recognize each of these companies, and particularly Johnson & Johnson, for working tirelessly to empower women and girls with access to quality health and wellness products and services,” said Nancy Wildfeir-Field, President of GBCHealth.
By working with trusted partners to prevent, treat and care for those who suffer, Johnson & Johnson has taken a holistic approach to obstetric fistula care, a traumatic childbirth injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labor, for more than 20 years. Obstetric fistula is common in the poorest communities in the world, where women lack access to essential, quality healthcare services.
In addition to donating surgical supplies, Johnson & Johnson focuses on training health workers, thereby increasing vulnerable women’s access to skilled care at birth, as well as their ability to access safe surgery. The company also supports women as they rehabilitate following surgery, providing counseling and training to build skills as they reintegrate into their communities.
“Obstetric fistula is a complex issue that needs a range of interventions, including prevention, treatment and rehabilitation,” said Lauren Moore, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship at Johnson & Johnson. “We are humbled by this recognition, and honor the partners who have been at our side for more than two decades as we’ve worked together to prevent fistula, and to treat women suffering from this debilitating condition.”
Obstetric fistula is a condition of health inequity. Currently, more than two million women worldwide are living with obstetric fistula and every year, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 women are newly affected. Existing global treatment capacity leaves 70% of cases untreated. Women suffering from the condition are frequently forced from their homes, ostracized by their communities and robbed of economic opportunities that enable them to support themselves and afford the care they so desperately need.
To address this need, Johnson & Johnson works with many partners, including UNFPA, Mercy Ships, the Fistula Foundation, FIGO and Kupona, to rectify the inequities that lead to fistula, and ensure that all women can live the healthy lives they deserve.
For more information on GBCHealth and this award, please visit http://gbchealth.org/gbchealth-announces-winner-of-the-2016-women-girls-business-action-on-health-award.