Two CFOs Harness the Power of LinkedIn® to Deliver Critical Laboratory Equipment to Africa

Sysmex America, Inc. and Healthcare Consultancy Group team up for AfriKids

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Feb 28, 2017, 07:00 ET

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., Feb. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sysmex America, Inc., a leading provider of automated hematology diagnostic test equipment as well as urinalysis and flow cytometry systems, today announced that it has donated a hematology analyzer to AfriKids Medical Centre in rural northern Ghana. "Ghana sees as many as ten million cases of malaria a year, and child deaths to the disease are highest in the north, where even basic healthcare is very limited. The AfriKids Medical Centre is vital to thousands of families here, and we are incredibly grateful to Sysmex for donating a new haematology unit, which will not only be critical to us saving lives, but with improved technology will enable us to do more than ever before," said Amy Parker, CEO of AfriKids.

This would be a simple donation story except for its social media origins. In the summer of 2016, Brian Kielty, CFO of the Healthcare Consultancy Group (HCG), listened to a presentation by AfriKids during a visit to Chameleon Communications, a subsidiary of HCG and Stephen Marchant, President Chameleon Europe. A new hematology analyzer was at the top of their wish list for their medical center. "I was most interested in how AfriKids is able to turn a temporary intervention into a lasting difference. Through the establishment of basic health services and an infrastructure for education and innovative microeconomies, AfriKids is able to have an enduring impact in an area of the world with no shortage of need or complexity," said Kielty.

While others were thinking about raising the funds to purchase a new unit, Kielty had a different plan. He sent emails via LinkedIn to a number of CFOs of diagnostic equipment manufacturers. His 'shot in the dark' found Alex Garini, CFO of Sysmex America, Inc.

"The message came as a complete surprise, and then I viewed the AfriKids video. I contacted Brian and he spoke with real passion about the organization and was impressed by the tangible impact this charity was having in an impoverished area of rural Ghana. I truly wanted to find a way for Sysmex to assist," said Garini. He consulted with Sysmex associates and found out that the hematology analyzer model that AfriKids had requested was available and could be sent to Ghana. After discussions with another affiliate, Sysmex Europe GmbH, it was determined that the medical center could continue its relationship with the local Sysmex distributor for reagents and service. "This was not an easy task, but it is part of our company philosophy—The Sysmex Way—to give back to society and help others," said Garini.

"This simple donation was realized only after the combined efforts of many people, in multiple companies on three continents. Brian and I are happy to announce that the new Sysmex hematology analyzer was finally delivered and installed in the AfriKids Medical Centre laboratory just in time for Christmas," said Garini. Social media at its best.

About Sysmex America, Inc.
Sysmex America, Inc. distributes and supports a diverse portfolio of best-in-class, in vitro diagnostic hematology and clinical laboratory products in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. It is the U.S. headquarters of Sysmex Corporation, located in Kobe, Japan, a trusted world leader in clinical laboratory solutions that optimize efficiency, operations and financial performance in the lab. Sysmex is reshaping the healthcare of tomorrow at the clinical laboratory level by transcending the boundaries of diagnostic science and serving as the pulse of reliable, accountable care. For more information about Sysmex America, visit www.sysmex.com/us.

About the Healthcare Consultancy Group (HCG)
The Healthcare Consultancy Group is a collaboration of agencies that enable healthcare companies' medical affairs, regulatory, and marketing teams to better meet the needs of physicians, patients, and other stakeholders. HCG firms provide strategic and communications consulting, scientific branding and messaging, data visualization, and traditional and digital creative execution. HGC agencies develop and execute medical publication plans, stakeholder relationship and peer-to-peer education programs, regulatory communication plans, market access initiatives, and patient-centered development and communications programs. Headquartered in New York, and with offices throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, HCG agencies include Health Science Communications, Hyphen Digital, The Scienomics Group, The Chameleon Group, ProEd Communications, ProEd Regulatory, Accuverus, Scientific Strategy Partners, and Choreo Market Access.

About AfriKids

AfriKids is a partnership between a UK charity and a Ghanaian Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), working together to improve life for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in northern Ghana, West Africa
AfriKids' programmes are run by qualified local staff and volunteers in Ghana, making changes in their own communities by working with all levels of society from families to the government to improve education, protection and healthcare for children at risk
One of the initiatives under AfriKids' Health Programme is the AfriKids Medical Centre. This is a primary hospital located in Bolgatanga, the capital of the Upper East Region of Ghana, where almost half of the population live in poverty and 1 in 10 children die before their 5^th birthday. It sees around 55,000 cases a year
AfriKids is multi award-winning and was named International Charity of the Year at the Charity Times Awards 2015
More information can be found at www.afrikids.org or by calling 0044 207 269 0740

SOURCE Sysmex America, Inc.