New HOPE for China’s Child Cancer Patients As Oncology Tower Opens at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center

Global NGO Project HOPE and Hospira Foundation Highlight Huge Strides In Care for Chinese Kids Suffering from Cancer

Millwood, VA, May 31, 2013

A pioneering children’s hospital in Shanghai will honor Project HOPE and the Hospira Foundation for their leading role in fighting children’s cancer, as it inaugurates a new state-of-the-art 142-bed oncology tower on June 1.

A $1 million USD donation from the Hospira Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the global injectable drugs and infusion technologies company, has helped Project HOPE establish a cancer research center, a palliative care program and a psychological support network at the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center.

Forty-five thousand new cases of pediatric cancer are diagnosed each year in China, and the new center will assure the SCMC’s reputation as one of Asia’s most renowned centers of pediatric care.

More than 14,000 young patients were treated for cancer at the SCMC last year, and the seven-story oncology tower, which features a research laboratory, will improve the SCMC’s capabilities in hematology and oncology research and clinical diagnosis.

“The demand for pediatric cancer care in China is rapidly increasing, and, together with the Hospira Foundation and the dedicated specialists at SCMC, we have now expanded the SCMC’s capability to meet the enormous challenges of this disease,” said John P. Howe III, M.D., President and CEO of Project HOPE, a global health education and humanitarian organization.

Project HOPE has been creating and implementing ambitious programs funded by the Hospira Foundation since 2010 that are improving pediatric oncology care at SCMC including:

• Professional training in immunology, genetic and molecular biology to support research and advanced clinical care
• Hematology oncology specialty with training to benefit clinicians and nurses at hospitals outside of Shanghai to narrow the gap in pediatric cancer therapy in China
• A palliative care program focusing on cancer symptom management to promote physical and psychological support for children with cancer
• An integrated social service network of psychological services and parental support to help families navigate the painful journey of cancer therapy in the hospital and at home

“Hospira is honored to have this opportunity to help China’s youngest and most vulnerable patients receive the best medical treatment and expertise,” said Khai Meng Ang, Vice President, Asia, Hospira. “As the new tower has grown, so has the standard of care that will be provided to patients and their families through this pioneering program and partnership. This is in line with our company’s vision of advancing wellness, and we are proud to help make a difference for children and their families battling cancer.”

Project HOPE is active across many fronts in the battle against cancer – the leading cause of death around the world. The WHO estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without treatment.  Project HOPE has programs in Eastern Europe to address the needs of pediatric cancer patients by improving treatment and coordinating medical and psycho-social care.  HOPE also helped to establish the Basrah Children’s Hospital in Iraq in 2010, a specialty referral hospital, dedicated to treating pediatric cancer.  HOPE equipped the hospital with donated equipment and supplies, and trained its staff, using privately donated funds totaling more than $30 USD million.

Project HOPE at the SCMC

HOPE continues to support the SCMC through sustained training programs for professional health care workers and patients in areas including diabetes, children’s nutrition, cancer care, pediatric epilepsy, enuresis, critical care medicine, and nurse training. HOPE has worked to improve the health of communities in China for 30 years by partnering with government health authorities and corporate partners.  The need for first class care is accentuated by China’s huge population, diverse demography, and rapid economic development.

About Project HOPE

Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems, with the mission of helping people to help themselves.  Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world’s first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now conducts land-based medical training and health education programs in more than 35 countries across five continents.

About the Hospira Foundation

The Hospira Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation established in 2004, helps improve health and wellness in communities in need around the world. The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Hospira, Inc., the world’s leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies. Since Hospira’s launch in 2004, Hospira, its employees and the Hospira Foundation have given more than $100 million USD in monetary and product donations to support the global community. For more information about the Hospira Foundation, visit www.hospira.com.

About Hospira China

Based in Shanghai and supported by approximately 100 dedicated employees, Hospira China is committed to helping hospitals advance healthcare. The company has had a growing presence since establishing its first office in 2008, moving to a direct commercial presence in 2012. Hospira China offers high-quality imported oncology drugs that serve patients with various types of cancers, as well as patient controlled analgesia pumps and accessories for the administration of pain-control drugs. Learn more at www.hospira.cn.