Lend a hand and learn about diseases

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Help those in need and learn how to protect your children from diseases.
This is the goal of a charity fund set up by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Malaysia to help raise money for welfare organisations.
The WyethAID Charity Fund aims to provide a platform for Malaysians to participate in easing the financial burden of local welfare organisations while increasing awareness about health issues.
"It has always been our commitment to lead the way to a healthier world," Wyeth Malaysia managing director Thomas Sichort said at the fund’s launch recently.
"We have had a long history of pioneering developments that improve the lives of millions across the world and our success in Malaysia stems from the support we have received."
The initial focus of WyethAID is on pneumococcal diseases, an illness that has grown to be a major threat to the health of children worldwide.
The World Health Organisation estimates that pneumococcal diseases result in more than one million deaths each year in children under the age of five in developing countries, mostly due to pneumonia.
And yet, only 31 per cent of Malaysian parents are aware of the disease, according to the 2006 Global Pneumococcal Disease Awareness Survey.
Present at the launch were pneumococcal disease awareness ambassadors, singer Sheila Majid and radio presenter Simon D’ Cruz.
For more details on how you can participate, check out www.wyethaid.com.my