Global Health Corp program benefits from expanded Chevron and Texas Children's Hospital partnership

HOUSTON - Dec. 15, 2011 - Chevron and Texas Children's Hospital today announced a $6 million, five year agreement to expand the Hospital's Global Health Corps program which provides life saving pediatric health care, treatment and training to the most medically underserved populations in Africa.


"This new partnership with Chevron will allow us to put more critically-needed doctors on the ground in Africa, providing much needed health care to children and whole families and training hundreds of African physicians, nurses and other health professionals" said Dr Mark Kline, physician-in-chief at Texas Children's Hospital, chair of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and founder of the Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI).


Chevron's contribution will support the recruitment and training of about 10 additional US physicians on an annual basis to expand the program's focus into Angola and Liberia. The program also has the goal of expanding into communities in Nigeria, as well as Latin America.


"The agreement with Texas Children's Hospital and BIPAI strengthens our current efforts in helping to better meet the healthcare needs of underprivileged communities in the countries where we operate, now and in the future," said Rhonda Zygocki, executive vice president, policy and planning, Chevron Corporation.


The Global Health Corps program recruits talented and committed pediatricians and family doctors for long-term assignments in Africa to care for thousands of children and families affected by serious or life-threatening medical conditions including sickle cell disease, malaria, tuberculosis, malnutrition, cancer and HIV/AIDS. Global Health Corps physicians also perform clinical research and train local health professionals to build capacity for pediatric health care.


"We value the opportunity to support remarkable doctors who provide critical day to day pediatric and maternal health care while training in-country care givers to help build a legacy of greater health expertise in the areas where they are located," said Ali Moshiri, president, Chevron Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production Company.


Texas Children's Global Health Corps will build upon the collaborative, mentoring relationships that exist with the Ministries of Health, local stakeholders, and local health professionals to help with professional training, capacity building, and community mobilization within the national health workforce.


"At Texas Children's Hospital, we have a strong record of creating public-private partnerships, working with local governments and private partners in tackling some of the most immediate medical needs in the countries of Africa," said Michael Mizwa, BIPAI's chief operating officer and senior vice president. "We are looking forward to expanding our work in these countries."


Today's agreement expands the partnership between Chevron, Texas Children's Hospital and BIPAI which was inaugurated with a $4 million gift to establish a sickle cell disease screening and treatment program created in partnership with the Republic of Angola and announced in March 2011.

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.