Ranbaxy organises WALKATHON'06 in Mumbai, India, on World AIDS Day

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has announced that every year, December 01 is observed as 'World AIDS Day'. India has now emerged as one of the global hotspots for the disease with more than 5.7 million people currently estimated to have tested positive for HIV/AIDS. It is believed that if the epidemic is left unchecked, it could reach un-manageable proportion and lead to huge health challenges.

Being a global pharmaceutical major, the Company strongly felt that Generic Anti Retroviral (ARVs) are essential in fighting the worldwide struggle against HIV/AIDS, and therefore took a conscious decision to provide high quality drugs accessible in India and also other afflicted countries at affordable costs way back in 2001. The Company today offers a large portfolio of ARV medicines for the afflicted and as a result, over 200,000 patients in over 50 countries including India, Africa, Latin America, CIS and Asia benefit from the Company’s ARVs. The Company’s ARVs have been used as mainstays in various large treatment programs, both National and NGO / Institutional with good results.

Given its involvement with the global fight against AIDS, the Company strongly felt that besides making the drugs available, it is equally important to focus on advocacy programs to generate awareness & empathy about the disease and its patients and work towards dispelling the myths, stigmas and ignorance. As part of this conscious thought, the Company is organising a first of its kind "WALKATHON '06" in Mumbai, on December 01, the World's AIDS Day. For the first time in India, doctors cutting across their specialty will walk together in order to express their solidarity with the cause - the Fight against AIDS. Mr. A N Roy, Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, will flag-off the historical 3km Walkathon from the NCPA grounds at 7.30am, which would stretch across the "Queen’s Necklace". The Walkathon will terminate back at the NCPA ground. The event will conclude with a valedictory function by the chief guest Padmabhushan Shri. Nana Chudasama, a leading activists and ex Sheriff of Mumbai.

The Walkathon symbolises the Company's efforts to address the social dimensions of AIDS and create awareness amongst the public and the medical fraternity alike, in fighting the global struggle against the HIV/AIDS.

Speaking on the novel concept of WALKATHON '06 Dr. D G Saple, Hon. Director & Principle Co-ordinator HIV/AIDS Clinical Research Programme Human Healthcare & Research Foundation, doing work on AIDS since 1988 in Mumbai, said "Awareness programmes and events like the Ranbaxy Walkathon, encourages and re-iterates the commitment of the medical fraternity. This must be a part of the integral strategy in the fight against AIDS. It is a very welcome sign that a Company like Ranbaxy, which enables patients to access therapy easily, at affordable prices, is also actively involved in creating mass awareness."

The Company also announced that the Company has recently introduced paediatric ARV medicines, Virolans Kid and Virolans Kid DS (both triple ARV combinations for children) in India. These products are designed to deliver three ARV drugs together, in recommended strengths and simplify delivery of a more accurate treatment to children in resource poor settings.

Source : Equity Bulls

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