GSK empowers effort to create safe community for children in Sri Lanka

Saturday, 11 October 2014 01:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sponsors inauguration of pilot project in Gampaha District and conducts island-wide poster campaign

Statistics indicating that only 38.5% of Sri Lankan victims of child abuse lived in a protective environment have prompted GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (GSK), the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals and vaccines to the country, to extend its support for a second year to an initiative to safeguard children in Sri Lanka from abuse. Inaugurated by the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (SLCP) together with Plan Sri Lanka in 2013, the project titled ‘Creating Safe Communities for Children in Sri Lanka’ encompasses the implementation of multi-sectoral guidelines for the management of child abuse and neglect, as well as a program of activities for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect. As the co-sponsor of ‘Creating Safe Communities for Children,’ GSK Pharmaceuticals bore the cost of the inauguration ceremony of the Gampaha District pilot project and supported it with a country-wide poster campaign. The ceremony conducted by the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians was graced by Justice Shiranee Tilakawardane, Consultant to the Sri Lanka Judges Institute and to the Council of Legal Education of the Law College of Sri Lanka, as Chief Guest. The event included the presentation of a magazine published with guidelines on managing abused children, and a training program for doctors and Probation Officers of the Gampaha District on the same topic. GSK dedicated its 2014 ‘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, MOH offices, schools and police stations around Sri Lanka to complement the efforts of the Child Protection Committee of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians. According to the committee, there has been a significant increase in child abuse incidents with 3779 cases reported in 2012, as against 3573 in 2011, 3058 in 2010 and 1,599 incidents in 2009. Sixty four per cent of these cases involved sexual abuse. The lack of protective family environments due to dysfunctional families and poor extended family support have been identified as causes placing children at risk. Speaking at the launch of the SLCP initiative, GSK Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Stuart Chapman said: “We are extremely happy to support and partner with the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians for the second consecutive year to make a direct contribution to society by creating awareness on child safety. The response to the island-wide poster campaign from hospitals, public transport and police stations was very encouraging. We will be consistent in our assistance to consolidate the effort.” “We consider ourselves fortunate to have GSK partnering this project yet again efficiently and effectively to support our effort for better management of victims of child abuse and neglect. GSK has fully extended its support for a cause in which all professionals in different segments of society need to come together as one,” said Child Protection Committee of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians Chairperson Professor Asvini D. Fernando. As the second annual event of ‘Creating Safe Communities for Children in Sri Lanka’ got underway, teams made up of more than 140 employees of GSK Pharmaceuticals, who were given a paid holiday on that day, engaged in mounting more than 6,000 posters as part of the company’s ‘Orange Day’ activity for 2014. Three different posters have been designed to engage parents and children with simple messages on safeguarding children. Eye catching drawings were produced for this activity under the guidance of the Child Protection Committee of the SLCP with funding from GSK. The posters are in English, Sinhala and Tamil. ‘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.