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Mexican Employees Turn Company Values Into Action with Hurricane Relief Efforts
When two hurricanes hit Mexico in September 2013, Novo Nordisk employees stepped up to keep essential food, basic goods and insulin supply lines open
Mexican Employees Turn Company Values Into Action with Hurricane Relief Efforts
When two hurricanes hit Mexico in September 2013, Novo Nordisk employees stepped up to keep essential food, basic goods and insulin supply lines open
Published 01-16-14
Submitted by Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk employees in Mexico are the winners of the 2013 TakeAction award recognising their efforts to provide food, basic goods and insulin to people affected by two hurricanes which left thousands homeless and large areas without electricity, food or clean water.
“The tremendous efforts made by colleagues in Mexico have made a real difference to people affected by these natural disasters,” says Lise Kingo, executive vice president and chief of staffs, Novo Nordisk. “They show true Novo Nordisk commitment to patients and communities. A great example of how employees turn company values into action.”
The annual TakeAction award honours the employee volunteer activity that best demonstrates Novo Nordisk's Triple Bottom Line approach – the company's commitment to financial, social and environmental responsibility.
Stepping up to ensure supply of insulin
On 16 September 2013, hurricanes Ingrid and Manuel hit Mexico affecting an estimated 1.2 million people, demolishing 300,000 homes and 43,000 schools. Whole areas are left without electricity, food or clean water.
At Novo Nordisk’s operations in Mexico, employees donated food supplies and basic goods to the Red Cross operation and 30 employees volunteered their services to help make sure these supplies and drinking water reached the worst-affected towns.
The volunteers soon realised that, in addition to supporting the general relief operation, they had an opportunity to make a unique contribution to people living with diabetes. Five thousand units of Novolin® were donated to the Ministry of Health and volunteers worked with the Red Cross to cover emergency demand for insulin in areas where hospitals and clinics had been destroyed.
"People lost everything they had. It was a very bad situation, in all levels of society," said Morten Vaupel, general manager, Novo Nordisk Mexico, who accepted the award. "We were happy to help. I'm very proud on behalf of Mexico to have been honoured with the TakeAction award."
After winning the award, Novo Nordisk Mexico donated the TakeAction award funds to Fundación Rafa Márquez, a charitable organisation set up by the Mexican professional footballer and former FC Barcelona player Rafael Márquez. The organisation helps children in marginalised urban areas across Mexico to obtain the tools that can grant them equal opportunities – through nutrition, education and sports – and keeping them away from drug consumption, alcoholism, crime, abuse and child prostitution.
About TakeAction
The TakeAction programme provides Novo Nordisk employees an opportunity to engage in voluntary activities and a forum for sharing best practices. All activities are developed and undertaken by Novo Nordisk employees and must support the company's business objectives as well as cover social and/or environmental objectives in their local communities.
In 2013, 145 TakeAction activities were carried out by 6,071 employees at 31 different Novo Nordisk affiliates, production sites and headquarter. The employees volunteered a total of 35,000 hours. Through these volunteer activities, Novo Nordisk employees supported 250,000 people and raised more than 281,000 US dollars for various charitable donations in their local communities.
To recognise volunteer efforts, all Novo Nordisk employees are invited to vote on what they determine is the TakeAction activity most deserving of the TakeAction award.
Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. We believe that a healthy economy, environment and society are fundamental to long-term value creation. This is why we manage our business in accordance with the Triple Bottom Line business principle and consider the financial, environmental and social impact of our business decisions. The strategic commitment to corporate sustainability has brought the company onto centre stage as a leading player in today's business environment, recognised for its integrated reporting, stakeholder engagement and consistently high sustainability performance.
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