Credit – REUTERS
Step into the realm of health equity, where everybody can have a good life irrespective of their identity or origin. Johnson & Johnson has stood as an emblem of promise for the past few years towards this end. Up till today, they still serve as that promise working consistently to ensure no one is neglected or left out on their effort to achieve quality health care services. Their dedication towards global health equity remains unwavering irrespective of where they are located; be it even at far-off villages or the busiest towns, they bring light and mercy across the globe.”
Walk with us as we interrogate how Johnson & Johnson is transforming the world towards healthy and just living at the one-life level.
What is Global Health Equity?
Global Health equity means the attainment of the highest level of health for all people, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, preferred language, or other factors.
In other words, you can say “Global health is an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide.“
Global health equity is on the mission to radically change the way health care is delivered around the world.
CSR Projects Supported by Johnson & Johnson
Training Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives – Bringing Healthcare to India’s Rural Villages
In the villages of India, where global health equity is a pressing concern, a significant portion of the population comprises poor farm laborers or farmers with small landholdings who barely earn enough to provide for their families. As a result, many girls from these rural villages do not pursue their studies beyond secondary education due to financial constraints. They work in the fields, do household chores, and are married off at a young age.
To address this, Johnson & Johnson introduced the Capacity Building of Healthcare Providers initiative, where the team works with the Indian Red Cross Society to support ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) training for underprivileged girls at Bel Air Hospital in Panchgani, Maharashtra, and Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.
The program fulfills two critical needs:
- enhancing healthcare facilities
- enabling employment opportunities for underprivileged girls in rural areas
Each year, 60 girls from each center, based on merit and economic backgrounds selected for the 2-year residential course provided free of cost. After completing the course, girls are offered job placements in village health programs under the National Rural Health Mission.
AmeriCares: Maharashtra Flood Relief Program
On 22 July 2021, torrential rains battered six districts of Maharashtra Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg Kolhapur Sangli, and Jalgaon. Heavy rainfall triggered landslides in many places and flooded the rivers, resulting in flooding of vast areas affecting lakhs of people. There was a need to provide immediate relief to the impacted people. Health and hygiene kits, safe drinking water, resting kits, shelter kits, and vector protection kits were required.
Having spent a few days in contaminated water, flood-affected communities were exposed to various diseases and there was an urgent need to provide them with primary health care services. With support from Johnson & Johnson, AMERICARES conducted a need assessment on the ground through primary and secondary data, ensuring alignment with principles of global health equity. This initiative facilitated the procurement, packaging, and transportation of relief kits. This activity supported 6835 families of flood-affected districts.
The support provided to each family included:
- Health and Hygiene kits
- Resting kits
- Clean water kits
- Shelter kits
Indian Academy of Pediatrics Adaption of Nurturing Care for Early Child Development (IAP-Nurture-ECD)
According to the Lancet Report 2017, around 250 million (43%) children under 5 years from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) were not reaching their expected development potential. This is because adverse factors such as poverty and stunting significantly outweigh protective ones like educated parents and stimulatory home environments. This imbalance negatively affects young children’s brain growth, physical health, and psychological development, resulting in faltering or a downward deviation of the developmental trajectory.
In early 2021, Johnson & Johnson partnered with the Indian Academy of Pediatrics to support a program on ‘Nurturing care for ECD (NC-ECD)’ to improve outcomes related to holistic child health, growth, and development, with an emphasis on early childhood (0 – 3 years), thereby advancing global health equity.
The objectives of the project are:
- Capacity building of pediatricians to effectively sensitize and impart knowledge and skills to parents/caregivers
- To popularize the concept of well-child visits at specific ages in which checklists can be administered to identify gaps in parental practice related to NC & ECD
- To help parents develop/enhance their caregiver skills by providing NC
Prerana
This program aimed at strengthening the nutritional support provided to children in Night Care Conditions (NCCs) to help them stay healthy during pandemic times, thus contributing to global health equity. NCCs offer services such as – protected shelter, wholesome nutrition, education support, safe play options, safe sanitation options, opportunities for skill development, awareness sessions, and an overall platform for holistic personality development and growth.
In collaboration with Johnson & Johnson, Prerana has been facilitating the BTE program for children from underprivileged backgrounds. Parents of these children are daily wage earners, cooks, and domestic helpers from underprivileged backgrounds.
During the pandemic, to ensure help that each child receives nutritious meals and can thrive in a healthy family, Prerna provided ration and sanitary relief kits to 300 women living in the red light area for two months.
Strengthening Anganwadi for Healthy & Educated Communities in India
Anganwadi centers play an important role in promoting the health and education of communities across India. These centers are mainly focused on early childhood care, nutrition, and basic education, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Johnson & Johnson is in a long-term partnership with Humana People to People India, a not-for-profit organization, to strengthen the capacity of Anganwadi Centres and Government Health Centres in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana since April 2016 and in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh since April 2020, with the ultimate goal of bringing sustainable changes in maternal & child health, aligning with principles of global health equity.
Strengthening Anganwadi centers is crucial for building healthy and educated communities in India.
Strengthening community-based healthcare services for underprivileged mothers and children in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra
Healthy, empowered women and children are the center of strong families and the core of strong communities. However, some mother do not have access to healthcare support for themselves and their children. In Aurangabad, it was found that only 50% of mothers underwent antenatal care checkups(an indicator of healthcare during pregnancy) in their first trimester, and 38% of the mothers had four antenatal care visits.
To help address this gap, Johnson & Johnson has partnered with Humana People to People India, a not-for-profit organization, to help build the capacity of Government Community Health Workers (CHWs), including Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANM), Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), and Anganwadi workers in the district. The project aims to enhance maternal and child health care service delivery and reduce mortality indicators in the district. The project will cover 100,000 people in nine villages through 100 Anganwadi centers and 10 health sub-centers around three Primary Health Centers (PHC) of Jikthan, Shendurwada, and Daulatabad in Aurangabad.
How Johnson & Johnson Is Changing the Culture of Healthcare?
1. Through Workforce
Johnson & Johnson is teaming up with universities, hospitals, and healthcare groups to create a diverse healthcare team. By working together they show that their healthcare workers reflect the diversities of the world around us. This is not about hiring folks from different backgrounds; it’s about bringing together unique perspectives and ideas to find better ways of caring for people. They believe a diverse team leads to more innovative and inclusive solutions for everyone.
2. Through Investments
Johnson & Johnson believes investing in and supporting care models and solutions drives healthier outcomes. This is why they are teaming up with communities and groups to find new ways to give better care and support. They ensure that everyone worldwide has a fair chance at good health.
3. Through Collaborations
Johnson & Johnson is revolutionizing healthcare through collaborative support with a strong emphasis on advancing global health equity. By partnering with diverse stakeholders, including:
- Healthcare providers
- Research institution
- Advocacy groups,
the company is driving innovation and advancing medical science. Through these collaborations, Johnson & Johnson is pioneering new treatments, empowering patients, and tackling global health challenges.
Societal Impact of Jonhson & Johnson
1. Spreading E-waste awareness
Electronic waste has become a serious problem, owing to its increasing amount and toxicity. As a result, improper electronic waste disposal endangers human health and the environment. Putting in place a global “reduce, reuse, and recycle” program will help in encouraging the organization’s transition to a circular economy.
2. Humana(Saving and improving the lives of women and children)
This project has successfully organized static clinics and health camps to reach out to approximately 15,000 direct beneficiaries in the state of Mahbubnagar district of Telangana.
3. Sight for Kids
Improving eye health education and access to professional eye care in vulnerable communities. Over the past 15 years, the SFK program has been run in 10 countries across Asia, and more than 24 million children have been screened, with around 900,000 referred for further assessment or treatment. Nearly 150,000 volunteers have been trained to help with the eye tests. In 2017, the SFK program seeks to reach millions more students in India, Nepal, China, Thailand, and Vietnam.
4. Child in Need Institute
Since 2005 Johnson & Johnson has been helping the Child in Need Institute (CINI) to improve the health of mothers and children in several slum areas of Kolkata, contributing to global health equity. Johnson & Johnson has systematically strengthened the front lines of care, enabling CINI to care for approximately 800 vulnerable women and 2,000 children at any one time. To date, Johnson & Johnson has helped to improve the health of nearly 100,000 women and children through this program.
5. Param Prasad Charitable Society
50 ANM( Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives)trained girls pass out every year and 5,000 rural people receive better care. To date, 100 girls have been trained under this program.
6. Integrated Adolescent Girl Empowerment Program – Magic Bus
Helping girls in India realize their potential through education and the acquisition of life and vocational skills. As of now, they are working with 400,000 children from underprivileged backgrounds across India, including 3100 who are directly supported by Johnson & Johnson.
7. Indian Red Cross Bel-Air Hospital
The Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives (ANM) Training Program was initiated in 2010 in partnership with the Indian Red Cross Society to address the shortage of nurses in the villages and help underprivileged girls pursue higher education and gain employment. Johnson & Johnson covers the costs including the course fee, room and board, study materials, uniform, and stationery.
Conclusion:
Johnson & Johnson is dedicated to promoting global health equity through various initiatives and collaboration worldwide, which are positively impacting the most vulnerable populations. This marks their commitment to combating health disparities globally by facilitating equal distribution of health services and resources.
Further strengthening their dedication to global health equity, Johnson & Johnson looks forward to a time when all people, regardless of their geographical location or social status shall enjoy well-being.
