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health
Supporting programs that focus on enhancing health conditions helps alleviate poverty and promotes societal progress and economic growth. We support programs that build health care capacity at the community level, promote research and development as well as advocate for awareness and support. In 2006, ExxonMobil worldwide health contributions totaled $19 million
, with more than $15 million benefiting communities outside of the United States.
Through funding from the ExxonMobil Foundation, MediSend International sends medical supplies and equipment to places that need it. Esso Exploration Angola volunteers help unload a container of medical supplies and equipment from MediSend International.
With a significant presence in Africa, we are keenly aware of the health and economic impacts on our workforce, their families, and the communities where we operate. Over the past six years, ExxonMobil has worked with a growing number of partners to advance the principles and objectives of the global initiative, Roll Back Malaria. In response to the unanticipated cholera outbreak in Angola last year, we quickly responded with financial and material support.
ExxonMobil established its Africa Health Initiative in 2000 to work with local and international partners to develop effective strategies to prevent, control and treat malaria and other infectious diseases and improve the health of people on the African continent. Since launching the Africa Health Initiative, we have invested approximately $30 million.* In 2006, grants totaling more than $9 million were awarded to support awareness of, and access to, malaria treatment and prevention options, to promote strategies to build health care capacity at the community level, to fund research and development of new drugs and vaccines, and to improve international advocacy initiatives. In addition, we continued funding of innovative bed net distribution programs, including integrating the distribution of long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets with measles vaccination campaigns and utilizing our service stations to provide a distribution system for bed net vouchers.
In the United States, ExxonMobil continues to focus primarily on research-based activities and programs concentrating on respiratory disease and community health.
* Through year-end 2006.
