The feeling of responsibility and ethical conduct are values forming an integral part of the Medicover culture and reflected in many diverse activities. In this process, the role of the Medicover Foundation is considerable. The main aim of the Foundation is to promote active pro-health behaviours in the society. The Foundation operates in Poland, other European counties as well as in some parts of the world.
Medicover promotes prevention and health education in the wider context, supports early disease detection, and proper diagnostics activities. It helps healthcare institutions in extraordinary situations such as natural disasters. The Foundation has lately donated one hundred thousand USD to the Saint Damien Paediatric Hospital in Port-au-Prince. The money will be spent on materials and medical equipment most necessary due to the Haiti's tragic earthquake.
Active health prevention
There are 3500 cases of the invasive cervical cancer diagnosed every year in Poland – 2500 women die of the disease. In some European countries, for example in Scandinavia, the problem does not exist owing to so-called active prevention – regular cytological tests as well as vaccinations. The HPV virus is passed on through sexual intercourse; therefore, it is important to vaccine before the sexual initiation. In 2009, the Medicover Foundation in cooperation with the TVN Foundation and “Dzień Dobry TVN” [Good Morning TVN] television programme conducted a prevention campaign – it enabled 13-year-old girls to vaccinate against the HPV virus.
Almost 400 of them took part in the initiative, and were vaccinated in three stages. All vaccinations took place at the Medicover Centre in Puławska Street in Warsaw. The Medicover medical personnel took care of girls’ health and safety. The cost of vaccines was covered by the TVN Foundation. The campaign was promoted with the following catchphrase:
“I protect life against the cervical cancer. Get your daughter, granddaughter vaccinated against the HPV virus.”
Vaccination campaign against the HPV virus - see report from “Dzień Dobry TVN” (Polish version)>>
Promoting knowledge of first aid and Health & Safety
Every year thousands of people have accidents. The most common accidents are transport accidents and mishaps at work or at home. Taking into account these statistics, the ability to provide fist aid during accidents is crucial. Numerous studies show that proper training and effective system which organises the work of emergency services, including volunteer services, result in higher numbers of people saved in the accidents, and reduce health consequences of such events.
The Medicover Foundation has organised the Emergency Medical Services Championships for the Company Rescue Teams “Safe Company”. The campaign was directed to various employees, and its aim was to promote knowledge and active behaviours in the are of the first aid and Health & Safety as well as in developing competence of rescue teams. So far, the Championships have taken place four times.
Promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle
“Hippocrates Run” is an internal initiative directed at Medicover employees and supported by the Medicover Foundation. The aim of the campaign is to promote regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle. The company employees run altogether a distance corresponding to the one between Warsaw and the Cos Island in Greece (Hippocrates’ birthplace).
The participants get closer to the final Run by taking part in the official runs or walkathons, and entering the number of kilometres they have covered on the Hippocrates Run website.
Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) prevention
Currently, the Medicover Foundation concentrates its main operations on the prevention of MSD. In Europe, MSD is the most common work-related health problem. In the European Union, 30-40% of sick leaves is MSD-related. According to European studies, 33% of EU employees complain of back pains, and 23% suffer from muscle pains. Not only does MSD cause physical suffering and pain but it is also a considerable financial burden for the healthcare system, employees, employers, and the economy in general. Although every employee may suffer from the disorder, MSD can be effectively prevented through the examination of activities undertaken at a workplace, introduction of preventive measures, and control of their efficiency. More information>>
Other projects carried out by the Foundation
Cardiovascular Screening Hungary is a campaign aiming at examining patients for cardiovascular system diseases. The patients are the inhabitants of remote regions of Hungary, or other territories where the risk of these diseases is high.
“Sweden for children” is a campaign for improvement of the safety of children. The initiative has been organised in cooperation with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Swedish companies (including IKEA).
For any additional information on business activities of the Medicover Foundation, please contact: Richard.Sands@Medicover.com
or Bartosz Maciejewski: bartosz.maciejewski@medicover.pl
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