GSK supports project to combat child abuse in Sri Lanka
View(s):A significant initiative by the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians to combat child abuse through better awareness of the problem has been launched with the support of GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK), a leading supplier of pharmaceuticals and vaccies in Sri Lanka.
Titled ‘Creating Safe Communities for Children’ the project involves the launch of multi-sectoral guidelines for the management of child abuse and neglect, as well as a programme of activities for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect, the company said in a media release.
“As principal sponsor of the launch of this initiative at the BMICH on Wednesday 4th December, GSK Pharmaceuticals bore the cost of the event, and supported it with a country-wide poster campaign intended to create greater consciousness about protecting children,” it said.
GSK also dedicated its 2013 ‘Orange Day’ — a day set aside by the company globally each year to encourage staff engagement with local communities — to mounting a series of purpose-designed posters at public places such as hospitals and police stations around Sri Lanka on 4th December to complement the efforts of the Child Protection Committee of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (SLCP).
Speaking at the launch of the SLCP initiative, Stuart Chapman, Managing Director of GSK Pharmaceuticals said: “In Sri Lanka, the focus of GSK’s corporate social responsibility commitments is the welfare of children. We are aware that the incidence of child abuse in our country is a cause for concern, and are impressed by the approach being taken by the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians to address the problem. GSK is therefore happy to support the College’s efforts with funding and through the company’s Orange Day activity.”
‘Orange Day’ is a term coined to be in harmony with GSK’s corporate colour and is about making a difference in countries where GSK is present. It also contributes to team building among employees and facilitates interaction with the community. The Orange Day initiative provides employees of GSK an opportunity to personally contribute to the company’s corporate mission of improving the quality of human life by helping people to do more, feel better and live longer.
Seen here is GSK Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Stuart Chapman and Head of Marketing Roger Talayaratne (centre and right) presenting some of the posters to the Minister of Child Development and Women’s Affairs . Tissa Karalliyadda.