Bracco Announces Initiative to Save Children in China at 2007 Annual Meet...( NEW YORK Sept. 28 -- Today at th...),Health

NEW YORK, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, at the Clinton Global Initiative, the Bracco/Children's HeartLink Initiative was announced. The commitment's estimated total value is $1,000,000. Fulvio Renoldi Bracco, Bracco AMT's Chairman and CEO, was recognized on behalf of the company and said that the partnership would provide life-saving training, equipment and direct patient funding to Jilin Heart Hospital, in Changchun City, Jilin Province, China -- reaching over 12,000 children in the next 3 years.

"The commitment from Bracco combined with medical volunteers from NY Presbyterian Hospital and others will help build a sustainable cardiac care program for children in Jilin Province, one of the poorest regions in China. This Initiative launched with President Clinton's encouragement reflects Bracco's spirit and corporate culture," Renoldi Bracco said.

The project will involve the training of over 150 medical personnel at the Jilin Hospital in China. The Bracco/Children's HeartLink Initiative will reach an estimated 4,000 children a year with emphasis on improving the quality of care. All assistance, whether in the diagnosis and treatment of patients or improvement of support services, is carried out with the intent of transferring skills while participating in the treatment of children.

"Congenital heart disease is the world's most common birth defect, affecting one in every 100 children. Without treatment, one third of these children die before their first birthday. In China, congenital heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death of infants. This is why this Initiative is so important," Elizabeth Bickel, Executive Director of Children's HeartLink, added.

About Bracco

Founded in 1927, the Bracco Group is today a worldwide integrated Healthcare Group, one of the world leading companies in the imaging agent business, with annual turnover of about 900 million Euro -- around 60% of which is from foreign sales. Bracco SpA, holdi
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