Mundipharma has teamed up with Direct Relief to donate its Betadine anti-virals to support the aid organisation’s efforts to contain the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.
With the partnership, Mundipharma, a network of independent associated companies, will provide more than two million anti-viral hand washes to treatment centres in the region.
The Ebola outbreak has killed more than 1,000 people, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a worldwide public health concern.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, says the Ebola virus is frequently found in saliva and close face-to-face contact without adequate personal protective equipment (including eye protection) puts others at moderate risk of acquiring the disease. Those at higher risk of infection include health workers, family members in close contact with infected people and mourners who have direct contact with the bodies of the deceased as part of burial ceremonies.
The best way to reduce the possibility of contracting the disease is to practise proper hygiene and World Health Organization guidelines say hand hygiene is the most important infection prevention and control measure.
Raman Singh, Mundipharma's President, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa, said: 'The donation of Betadine is wholly consistent with our mission and commitment to improving the health and quality of life of the human race everywhere.'
Thomas Tighe, Chief Executive of Direct Relief, said: 'Minimising the further spread of the virus is a fundamental step in our fight against Ebola and providing aid workers, healthcare professionals and the general population with a means to implement proper hand hygiene via Mundipharma’s donations will play an important role in our task.'
Mundipharma is donating supplies of Betadine Surgical Scrub and Betadine Scalp & Skin Cleanser, which are medicated soaps containing povidone iodine, a well-known antiviral, to provide hand disinfection even in areas without access to clean running water.
