Merck Sharpe and Dohme to aid Indian clean water scheme

Merck Sharpe and Dohme is bolstering its corporate social responsibility credentials via a new clean water access partnership with Safe Water Network.

The $1.5 million (945,000 pounds) three-year programme will see the pharmaceutical company working to provide clean water to impoverished communities in Andhra Pradesh, with the aim of reducing the impact of water-borne disease.

Working alongside its not-for-profit partner, Merck Sharpe and Dohme will develop demand generation programmes to increase household water usage, while also driving behavioural change with educational efforts detailing the importance of clean water.

Currently, it is thought that 70 to 80 percent of the total burden of disease across India is directly related to water contamination and poor sanitation.

KG Ananthakrishnan, managing director for Merck Sharpe and Dohme in India, said: "Our partnership with Safe Water Network is a testament of our commitment to help reduce the impact of water-related illness in India and of Merck's overall efforts to improve health globally."

Earlier this month, the company helped to create a new not-for-profit organisation called the California Institute for Biomedical Research, which will be dedicated to translating innovative medical studies into drug development projects.