MELVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, today announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mission Rabies to donate health care products valued at more than $60,000 to support a vaccination campaign in Malawi. The donation is an initiative of Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global social responsibility program.
According to Mission Rabies, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating rabies worldwide by 2030, more than 99 percent of rabies cases in humans are caused by bites from infected dogs. Rabies kills approximately 60,000 people every year, the majority of whom are children under 15. To protect the health of both animals and humans, veterinarians with Mission Rabies aim to rapidly achieve herd immunity by vaccinating 70 percent of the dogs in a given area. Since its creation in September 2013, Mission Rabies has vaccinated more than 236,000 dogs across India, Malawi, Sri Lanka, and Uganda, countries identified by the organization as global rabies hotspots.
"Henry Schein is proud to support Mission Rabies in its quest to strengthen vulnerable communities by eliminating this preventable disease," said Peter McCarthy, President, Henry Schein Global Animal Health Group. "We are dedicated to providing veterinarians with the tools and resources needed to protect animals, and by extension, safeguard human health. This is where prevention happens, and we are honored to be a part of it."
As part of the three-year agreement, Henry Schein will donate pharmaceuticals, syringes, and other veterinary products to support Mission Rabies' ongoing vaccination effort in Malawi. According to Mission Rabies, Henry Schein's donation will help support a vaccination effort in the East African nation that has already treated more than 35,000 dogs since May 2015.
"At Mission Rabies, we are on the front lines in the fight against this terrible disease, yet through the dedicated efforts of our teams, volunteers, and partners such as Henry Schein, we are making tremendous strides towards fighting back the disease," said Frederic Lohr, International Liaison and Publicity Officer, Mission Rabies.
Henry Schein's animal health business has operations or affiliates in 23 countries, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, Malaysia and 17 countries in Europe. In 2014, Henry Schein's Global Animal Health business had sales of approximately $2.9 billion.
About Henry Schein Cares
Henry Schein Cares stands on four pillars: engaging Team Schein Members to reach their potential, ensuring accountability by extending ethical business practices to all levels within Henry Schein, promoting environmental sustainability, and expanding access to health care for underserved and at-risk communities around the world. Health care activities supported by Henry Schein Cares focus on three main areas: advancing wellness, building capacity in the delivery of health care services, and assisting in emergency preparedness and relief.
Firmly rooted in a deep commitment to social responsibility and the concept of enlightened self-interest championed by Benjamin Franklin, the philosophy behind Henry Schein Cares is a vision of "doing well by doing good." Through the work of Henry Schein Cares to enhance access to care for those in need, the Company believes that it is furthering its long-term success. "Helping Health Happen Blog" is a platform for health care professionals to share their volunteer experiences delivering assistance to those in need globally. To read more about how Henry Schein Cares is making a difference, please visit our blog: www.helpinghealthhappen.org.
About Henry Schein, Inc.
Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ:HSIC) is the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners. The Company also serves dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites. A Fortune 500® Company and a member of the S&P 500® and the NASDAQ 100® indexes, Henry Schein employs more than 18,000 Team Schein Members and serves more than one million customers.
The Company offers a comprehensive selection of products and services, including value-added solutions for operating efficient practices and delivering high-quality care. Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 100,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 150,000 additional products available as special-order items. The Company also offers its customers exclusive, innovative technology solutions, including practice management software and e-commerce solutions, as well as a broad range of financial services.
Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 33 countries. The Company's sales reached a record $10.4 billion in 2014, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 16 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995. For more information, visit Henry Schein at www.henryschein.com, Facebook.com/HenrySchein and @HenrySchein on Twitter.
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SOURCE Henry Schein, Inc.