Established in 2008, the Global Blood Fund (GBF) supports transfusion-related initiatives in more than 40 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Terumo BCT provided a $25,000 USD grant to GBF to combat the world’s transfusion crisis. The donated funds will be used for various projects to improve transfusion care in emergent nations. Among its programs, GBF provides donated blood bank equipment, delivers and sponsors training programs, and supports efforts to reduce the stark inequalities in access to safe blood that exist between higher- and lower-income countries. Michael Lees, Vice President, Commercial, Terumo BCT, said:

Project C.U.R.E. is the largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries. Terumo BCT has provided financial, in-kind and volunteer support to the organization. Matthew Long, Engineer, Global Systems Performance, a young professional ambassador for Project C.U.R.E., is one of several Terumo BCT associates who volunteer with the organization.

In May 2017, a group of 12 ambassadors, including Long, from Project C.U.R.E. and the Project C.U.R.E. Young Professionals Board were on the ground in Campeche, Mexico to accompany a shipment of more than $100,000 USD of donated medical supplies and equipment to support local clinics, elder care facilities and orphanages. Terumo BCT provided a grant to support Long’s participation in this clinic trip. According to Long, the team saw everything from orphanages with dirt floors, no beds and 20 kids per room to clinics in the jungle where only the indigenous language is spoken and the hospital is the last beacon of hope for many residents. These facilities are in desperate need, and Project C.U.R.E.’s targeted Needs Assessments ensures supplies that they truly need and use to save lives are delivered to the right people. Matthew Long, Engineer, Global Systems Performance, a young professional ambassador for Project C.U.R.E., said:

In November, Terumo BCT was a $2,500 USD Full House sponsor for Project C.U.R.E.’s 7th Annual High Rollers for Health & Hope. Through the event, Project C.U.R.E raised $125,000 USD to enable shipping five containers of medical supplies and equipment valued at $2.5 million USD to benefit disaster relief in Mexico.

When protective clothing requirements changed for our Lakewood cleanroom manufacturing facility, we donated $15,000 USD of lab coats and smocks to Project C.U.R.E.

As an organization serving blood centers, we understand the lifesaving power of blood. This need becomes even more critical when patients are being treated on a floating hospital serving some of West Africa's poorest nations. The Africa Mercy is the largest ship in the fleet of the nonprofit organization, Mercy Ships—the world's largest non-governmental hospital ship with a volunteer crew of 1,000 professionals from up to 40 nations. The ship includes five operating theatres and has recovery, intensive care and low-dependency wards with 80 patient beds. Watch this video from Mercy Ships to learn more.

For nearly a decade, Terumo BCT has donated single and double blood bags to Mercy Ships. These bags are vital to the mission of Mercy Ships. Volunteer staff and crew on board the Africa Mercy regularly donate blood to meet the ship's transfusion needs for the 7,000 surgical interventions performed on board annually. As of June 2017, the ship was based in Benin, West Africa on its way to Cameroon.

On average, Terumo BCT provides 1,000 blood bags in response to each annual or biannual restocking request received from Mercy Ships.

One patient who directly benefitted from Terumo BCT's support is Sambany. Hearing about Mercy Ships on the radio, 55-year-old Sambany walked for 2 days to get to the ship to remove a 16.45-pound tumor. Sambany received 17 units of blood from volunteer crew donors before and during his 12-hour surgery. Watch this short video to hear Sambany's story.

Building on our previous support of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, Terumo BCT was proud to be a $25,000 USD platinum sponsor for the foundation’s inaugural Believe Ball in 2017.

The Emily Whitehead Foundation's mission is to raise awareness and funding for innovative childhood cancer treatments, such as immunotherapy, that will improve survival rates and quality of life. Emily’s parents created the Emily Whitehead Foundation to help provide researchers with the funding they need to find less toxic treatments for pediatric cancer. Their focus is funding the most promising research, such as the CAR T-cell therapy that Emily received and other immunotherapies.

Terumo Penpol (TPL) in India has a robust local corporate social responsibility program ranging from blood donation advocacy to supporting local schools and supporting government social initiatives.

Other supported healthcare initiatives include a stem cell donation drive, support to hemophilia and thalassemia patients, financial support for children with autism and physical challenges, and partnership with Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurgaon to focus on an anemia-free India. In conjunction with Hinduja Hospital, TPL provides a ₹60,000 INR/month, one-year scholarship to transfusion medicine students.

We also partner with government hospitals providing them with donated computers and printers, as well as donating sanitary items and toiletries. TPL assisted the Public Health Center to upgrade its facilities and provided financial support for a polio immunization drive.

In 2017, the Indian Prime Minister gave a call for “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” as a mass movement to realize Gandhiji’s dream of a clean India. As part of the Swatch Bharath drive, TPL supported Rotary International in the construction of toilets at four local schools, and we initiated cleanliness campaigns in the schools to increase awareness of better sanitation and hygiene practices. We also partnered with the local Government of Kerala to support their focus on converting dumpsites to places of attraction. Our support helped clear 36 dumpsites in Thiruvananthapuram.

C Padmakumar, Chairman and Managing Director, TPL, shared, “The company has been actively engaged in corporate social responsibility activities almost from the company’s inception over 30 years ago. As a business, we depend on our community and environment for various resources including natural and human resources. The symbiotic relationship between a business and its community forced us to think of ways in which we could give back to the community from which we draw sustenance. We are recognized by our community as a valued citizen which is in it for the long term. The local representatives of the people and the public at large appreciate the contribution that we have made to rural sports, education and health.”

From helping conduct blood glucose screenings to measuring blood pressure, associates representing all Terumo subsidiaries in Singapore volunteered their time, knowledge and skills to benefit those in the community.

Terumo BCT associates partnered with colleagues from our Terumo sister companies to lend a hand during the Giving Family Festival organized by TOUCH Community Services, one of Singapore’s most established community service organizations. The event was held in conjunction with our company’s annual Patients’ Day, a community corporate effort to reconnect with our mission, and consider anew what it means to personally contribute to the advancement of healthcare. On Patients’ Day, associates also reflect on the value Terumo provides to society.

Associates also participated in a charity run and a fundraising bazaar—some even brought along their friends and family members. Despite the physical demands under Singapore’s tropical heat, smiles of fulfilment were seen throughout. Associates were contended to personally contribute to frontline healthcare needs, while having an enjoyable time with each other.

“At this year’s Patients’ Day, we did not just transform our mission into actions, we also supported the Singapore national health agenda of diabetes prevention. I look forward to us continuing to reach out to the community that we live in and operate commercially, living our vision of “Contributing to Society Through Healthcare” said Arase-san, Managing Director, Terumo Asia Holdings.