April 24, 2008

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Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited celebrates Community Partnership Day 2008 with elderly citizens at a local old home called BOSHIPUK

Gazipur, April 24, 2008 - According to United Nations, an influx of senior citizens is seen in Bangladesh in recent years due to a decrease in fertility rates and improvement in life expectancy. At the same time, The growing intolerance among youth, coupled with their inability to adjust with the elderly, is just one of the prime reasons for the rise in the number of old age homes in Bangladesh. 71 year old Hasina (not her real name) would have withered on the pavements if not for the generous assistance of an old age home for destitute people. Around 250 people all above 60 years of age like Hasina have found shelter at Boshipuk.

Like previous years, this year also around 150 Associates took part in Novartis Community Partnership Day on 24 April 2008. The day started with a 2 hour journey and Associates enjoyed the ride because the day was cloudy and cool. This year the activities were varied and interactive, starting from games for the elderly, Health Check for the ailing old patients, planting tress for them to take care, basic orientation on geriatric health issues, cultural programme where songs were performed by our own Associates. We even wrote our own song and sang for them. Some of the elderly residents also took part in the cultural programme and sang to their hearts content. At the same time we gave them gifts and engaged in interactive discussions. Many of these senior citizens are in severe need of attention and suffers from depression. 

All the events were a success as the participants were fully satisfied. Everybody left full of strong and deep impressions, realizing much more strongly that there is lot to learn from these elderly people and also that the rewards of such interactions are always enormous in comparison to everyday responsibilities and mundane work. Our appreciation and admiration goes out to the management and the employees of the home who everyday give their best and makes this place 'a home' for many lost souls. We believe that all participants left enriched by beautiful experiences and memories that will be reflected in their appreciation of elderly people of our society.

About Novartis  

Novartis is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, treat diseases and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to treat patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in both patented and generic pharmaceuticals (Sandoz). We are strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high quality and affordable generics (Sandoz), human vaccines and leading self-medication OTC brands. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ more than 100,000 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world.

Novartis has manufacturing and marketing operations in Bangladesh since 1973 in areas of Research, Off Patent Branded Generic (Sandoz) and OTC Pharmaceuticals along with Animal Health.

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Rasna Hasan

Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication

Novartis (Bangladesh) limited

House 50, Road 2A

Dhanmondi RA

Dhaka 1209

BANGLADESH

+880 2 8615302-8

 rasna.hasan@sandoz.com

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