WARREN, N.J., Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GlaxoSmithKline
(LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced a donation of $1 million to Direct Relief on behalf of
consumers who have purchased its consumer healthcare products since
the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the COVID Tracking
Project, hospitalizations have more than doubled in less than two
months. GSK recognizes that with cases rising so rapidly, there is
a critical need to continuously support health care workers. The
monetary donation will be used to purchase personal protective
equipment (PPE) and essential medical items for U.S. health workers
on the front line dealing with this unrelenting crisis.
Since the outbreak, GSK has been providing its scientific
expertise to support the global response to COVID-19 and ensuring
its global supply chain continues to deliver vital medicines and
consumer healthcare products to the people who depend on them. GSK
Consumer Healthcare's portfolio includes leading brands such as
Sensodyne, Advil, Voltaren, Excedrin, Theraflu, Flonase, Centrum,
and Emergen-C.
"We are so proud to partner with Direct Relief to support the
amazing work they are doing to ensure health professionals have the
essential items that they need as the COVID-19 pandemic continues,"
said Lisa Paley General Manager, U.S. and Puerto Rico for GSK Consumer Healthcare. "We
know how important maintaining health is, especially as newly
diagnosed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to rise.
As one of the leading consumer healthcare companies, we have an
obligation to pay it forward and give back to frontline workers who
have been working tirelessly to keep us safe over the past nine
months. Our continued focus remains, ensuring healthcare worker's
needs are being met, staying vigilant as the pandemic continues and
keeping a steadfast focus on how critical these needs really
are."
Direct Relief is coordinating with public health authorities,
nonprofit organizations, and businesses to provide personal
protective equipment and essential medical items to health workers
responding to COVID-19. Since January, Direct Relief has delivered
more than 46 million N95 and surgical masks, more than 8 million
gloves, and tens of thousands of protective suits and other items
to help safeguard health workers
"Direct Relief is so deeply grateful for the leadership and
commitment reflected by GSK's action today, which is both keenly
needed and will be put to immediate use," said Thomas Tighe, CEO and President of Direct
Relief. "This is a perfect example of what's needed as we all face
this historic threat to the health of people everywhere."
Since the outbreak, GSK has been providing its scientific
expertise to support the global response to COVID-19 and ensuring
its global supply chain continues to deliver vital medicines and
consumer healthcare products to the people who depend on them.
GSK Consumer Healthcare has been supporting U.S. communities and
its employees nationwide in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis in many
ways, including:
- Participated in a major industry-wide movement to amplify one
resonant message: #StayHome. Save lives. GSK Consumer Healthcare
brands in the U.S. added a roof icon to their brand logo and shared
assets on brand social channels with the hashtags #StayHome and
#AloneTogether.
- Coordinated a donation of ChapStick and Abreva to 12
high-impact areas, including New
York, Michigan,
California, Washington, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Ohio and Maryland.
- Sponsored the Global Citizen special, One World: Together at Home.
- Donated $10,000 to the NJ
Community Food Bank, which serves several hard-hit New Jersey areas. In March, the organization
supplied enough food for 4.8 million meals to those in need.
- Shipped 3,000 care packages to every essential GSK Consumer
Healthcare manufacturing and distribution center employee across
the country.
GSK Consumer Healthcare is also encouraging customers to
#BeWellStayWell by taking care of themselves and their families
with health and wellness products, more information can be found at
BeWellandStayWell.com
Globally, GSK is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and
supporting efforts to tackle the virus. The company is
collaborating with companies and research groups across the world
working on promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates through the use of
its innovative vaccine adjuvant technology. It is also supporting
screening and research into potential medicines for COVID-19, as
well as providing expertise and financial support to relief
organizations. For more information on GSK's global efforts, visit
https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/resource-centre/our-contribution-to-the-fight-against-2019-ncov/.
About Direct Relief
A humanitarian organization
committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by
poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical
resources throughout the world to communities in need—without
regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more
information, please
visit https://www.DirectRelief.org.
About GSK Consumer Healthcare
GSK Consumer Healthcare combines science and consumer insights to
create innovative world-class health care brands that consumers
trust, and experts recommend for oral health, pain relief,
respiratory and wellness.
About GSK
GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special
purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. For
further information please visit gsk.com.
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SOURCE GSK Consumer Healthcare