World Health Day

The World Health Organizations's World Health Day 2009, which is today, focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Underscoring the urgency of this message are the real-time efforts of relief workers desperately trying to find and care for survivors of the earthquake in Italy yesterday.  As of 3.49 GMT, there were 207 fatalities, 150 people were rescued, 1,000 were injured, and 17,000 left homeless.

Making the timing of this even more surreal than World Health Day is the fact that many eyes are traditionally on Italy this week--the week before Easter.  Although many Italians--and one could assume tourists--are displaced and injured, and so many historic buildings were ruined or severely damaged, the government has so far said it does not need any foreign aid.

GSK is monitoring the situation to see if and how we can be of assistance.