Johnson & Johnson Philippines bags two Asian social awards

Johnson & Johnson Philippines continues to prove its leadership in community service not only in the country but in whole of Asia, as the company recently bagged the most coveted plums in two categories of the 2008 Asian Corporate Social Responsibility Awards.

Johnson & Johnson’s War on Worms in Western Visayas emerged as the Winner of the Asian CSR Awards’ “Concern for Health” category and a runner-up in the “Support and Improvement of Education” category, besting other entries from 15 countries.

The Asian CSR Awards is the premier awards program on corporate social responsibility that honors companies in Asia for its class services, projects and programs. Over 170 entries from 150 companies all over Asia competed for the top recognition and excellence awards in five categories, two of which were won by Johnson Philippines’ WOW-V Program.

Dr. Geraldo Balaccua, associate medical director of Janseen Pharmaceutical, a division of JOhnson & Johnson (Philippines) Inc., said that the program has gained recognition not only for Johnson & Johnson but for the country as well. “This award is an embodiment of the commitment of Johnson & Johnson Philippines to its mission of nurturing Filipino families and communities. WOW-V has played a significant role in the advancement of health care among children in the Visayas region and we will not stop finding ways to do our share to improve the health and education system in the other parts of the country as well,” Balcaccua said.

WOW-V is an integrated school-based deworming program that aims to decrease the prevalence of soil-trasmitted helminthes commonly known as “intestinal worms” among children in public elementary schools. STH is one of the most common infections causing malnutrition among children that inevitably leads to por school performance. –Manila Standard Today