GlaxoSmithKline

Save the Children and GSK have formed an ambitious and innovative partnership which aims to help save the lives of one million children. 

By combining our expertise, resources and influence we will transform child health in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Our partnership will focus on increasing access to health workers, medicines, vaccines, and better nutrition for the hardest to reach children, and those whose need is greatest.

Creating global change

Beginning with programmes in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we plan to develop flagship programmes to tackle child mortality and to establish models which can be adopted, scaled up and replicated in other developing countries.

Together, we’ll also use our influence with global powers to call for improved policy and practice, and increased international investment in children’s health.

Bringing vital treatments within reach

As part of the partnership, GSK will accelerate the development of life-saving new medicines designed especially for children.

For example, the antiseptic chlorhexidine – commonly used in mouthwash – will be reformulated into a gel for cleansing the umbilical cord stump of newborn babies, with the potential to prevent thousands of deaths from infection during the first few weeks of life.

Save the Children and GSK will also work together to research and develop further medicines and treatments that can be adapted to tackle the causes of child mortality.

By combining our on-the-ground experience with GSK’s commercial expertise, we’ll look for ways to decrease costs and improve distribution so that these lifesaving medicines are made available to children in the most remote and hard-to-reach communities.

Investing in vaccinations, nutrition and health workers

We will also work together, and in partnership with others, to:

- widen vaccination coverage for the poorest children, for example through greater use of mobile technology solutions

- research a new low-cost product to combat malnutrition – the underlying cause of one in three children’s deaths before the age of five

- increase investment in health workers in the world’s poorest communities.

This work will build on GSK’s existing commitment to reinvest 20% of profits in the least developed countries back in to strengthening local healthcare infrastructure.

GSK’s global workforce is united in behind this inspiring cause, aiming to raise £1 million a year, which will be matched by GSK.

Through this and other charitable donations to Save the Children, GSK has committed to donate at least £15 million over the course of the next five years.

Justin Forsyth, Chief Executive of Save the Children said:

“This ground-breaking partnership involves both organisations working in genuinely new ways to save the lives of a million children.

"In the past, Save the Children may not have embarked on collaboration with a pharmaceutical company like GSK. But we believe we can make huge gains for children if we harness the power of GSK's innovation, research and global reach."

Sir Andrew Witty, CEO of GSK said:

“A partnership of this scale gives us an opportunity to do something amazing – to save the lives of one million children, and to transform the lives of millions more. At GSK we are motivated by developing innovative life-saving medicines and getting them to the people that need them.

“By joining forces with Save the Children, we can amplify these efforts to create a new momentum for change and stop children dying from preventable diseases. I hope this partnership inspires GSK employees and sets a new standard for how companies and NGOs can work together towards a shared goal.”

- Partner website