Bayer Announces Additional Investment in Direct Relief Community Health Awards Program

WHIPPANY, NJ–(BUSINESS WIRE)–World Contraception Day is observed around the world to draw attention to the importance of family planning and access to birth control. To commemorate this year’s celebration, Bayer is pleased to announce a new round of grants representing an additional investment in the Community Health Award program, a collaboration with the humanitarian group Direct Relief.

The Direct Relief program provides funds to help address health disparities and pressing community needs of patients seeking family planning services by supporting Safety Net Health Clinics across the United States, in the goal of expanding models of care. In addition to the grant funding, Bayer has an ongoing partnership with Direct Relief, donating products for their network of safety net providers. To date, Bayer has provided thousands of intrauterine devices (IUDs) that have reached approximately 460 clinics across the country in areas with unmet needs.

Each Community Health Awards grant cycle focuses on supporting safety net clinics working in geographic areas in the United States of greatest need based on multiple criteria; including percentages of unintended pregnancies by state, percentage of contraceptive need covered by public funding, poverty rates for each state, and pending legislation prohibiting or restricting abortion services, where increased demand and need contraceptive care and services are expected. The latest round of Community Health Awards will be given to clinics working in Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

The announcement represents Bayer’s third round of investment in the program and will expand its current reach to reach more women. Since 2020, the collaboration between Bayer and Direct Relief has reached more than 33,324 women through services, trainings, education, grants and community outreach by rolling out grassroots programs like increasing the footprint mobile health units and the use of digital media to provide education.

“Focusing on giving women the tools and resources to make informed and powerful decisions is central to our We’re for Her mission. Now more than ever, these are critical focus areas,” said Yesmean Wahdan, MD, US Medical Affairs, Women’s Healthcare. “We know women are seeking contraceptive information in response to current events and our investment in the Community Health Awards program will provide additional support to states where patient needs in the areas of access and education are greatest. more important than ever.”

The Community Rewards Program is a demonstration of Bayer’s commitment we are for her mission, which reflects Bayer’s commitment to the reproductive health of all women – from products and education to promoting access to contraceptives. By working to ensure access to women’s health care and products and services, and by investing in programs dedicated to women’s health education, awareness and medical training, we support women’s ability to decide their own path.

“The unique approach of we are for her The mission creates greater community investment in women’s health, by providing much-needed IUDs free of charge, with funding to address many challenges in providing sexual and reproductive health care, said Paulina Ospina, associate director of the Maternal and Child Health from Direct Relief. “This holistic approach has been a wonderful way for Direct Relief, in collaboration with Bayer, to support safety net providers addressing the urgent need for contraceptives in their communities.”

About the Community Health Fellowship Program

The collaboration between Bayer and Direct Relief is a partnership that addresses grassroots access through the donation of Bayer intrauterine devices (IUDs), grants administered by Direct Relief to health clinics across the country, and educational materials for health institutions. The program is also aligned with Bayer’s goal of providing 100 million women worldwide with access to contraception by 2030.

We are for health. We are for access. We are for her.

At Bayer Women’s Healthcare, we believe that every woman should have access to what she needs to live her best life, with the power to choose what’s best for her body and her life journey. For more than 60 years, we’ve been a leader in advancing women’s health around the world, so that all women can determine their own future.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global company with core competencies in the areas of life sciences healthcare and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and the planet prosper by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to fostering sustainable development and generating a positive impact on its activities. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its profitability and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand is synonymous with trust, reliability and quality around the world. In fiscal year 2020, the Group employed approximately 100,000 people and generated revenue of €41.4 billion. R&D expenses before exceptional items amounted to 4.9 billion euros. For more information, visit www.bayer.com.

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