12.02.2005 ET

(CSRwire) ABBOTT PARK, Ill - The Abbott Fund announced today that it is providing $1.5 million in funding and product donations to programs aimed at improving the health of women and children in Afghanistan. Working in partnership with Direct Relief International (DRI) and the Afghanistan Institute of Learning (AIL), the Abbott Fund support will provide training for female health providers and nutritional and pharmaceutical products for maternal, infant and child health.

Afghanistan's maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest in the world. More than 20,000 Afghan women a year die from pregnancy-related causes, and an estimated 25 percent of Afghan children die before their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable illnesses and malnutrition.

"Training Afghan female health professionals is key to increasing access to quality health care for women and children," said Sakena Yacoobi, founder, President and Executive Director of AIL. "With Abbott Fund's support, we are significantly expanding our health care training programs for women, as well as providing critical nutritional supplements and medical care for mothers and children."

An initial $100,000 grant from the Abbott Fund will support training of female nurses, birth attendants and health educators to provide skilled assistance during labor and delivery, as well as care for infants and children. Abbott also is donating $1.4 million in donated products to directly improve maternal and child health, including Pedialyte® rehydration solution; multivitamins and the nutritional supplements Formance® and Ensure Healthy Mom®; and the antibiotic Biaxin® (clarithromycin).

About DRI and AIL
Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International (DRI) is a non-profit, non-sectarian humanitarian assistance organization that has a long history of working in Afghanistan. DRI has partnered with the Afghanistan Institute of Learning (AIL) since 2002. AIL is an Afghan women's non-governmental organization that was founded in 1995 to assist Afghan women and children. AIL serves more than 300,000 women and girls annually.

About Abbott and the Abbott Fund
Abbott has a long history of supporting programs dedicated to expanding access to health care. In 2004, Abbott and the Abbott Fund donated more than $300 million in products and funds to non-profit organizations, philanthropic programs and relief efforts throughout the world.

The Abbott Fund is a not-for-profit, philanthropic foundation established by Abbott, a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs 60,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's Web site at www.abbott.com.

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