Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
8.26.2008 - 12:40pm ET
News from:
Satyam Computer Services Ltd.
Satyam Launches Comprehensive, Mobile Healthcare Program for Rural Indians
(CSRwire) - Fully equipped Mobile 104 vehicles provide basic healthcare
for residents of remote areas of Andhra Pradesh
- Innovative healthcare program integrated with hugely
successful Emergency Management Research Institute's 'Call
108'
HYDERABAD, INDIA - August 26, 2008- /PRNewsire-FirstCall/ - Satyam
Computer Services Ltd. (NYSE: SAY), a leading global consulting and
information technology services provider, announced today that it has
embarked on a revolutionary program to deliver world-class healthcare to
remote villages in India. The public/private partnership between the
government of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Satyam provides a
fleet of healthcare vans -- mobile health units (MHU) -- that visit
villages on designated days to deliver healthcare services to rural
Indians, many of whom have never been seen by medical professionals
before.
The program, known as 104 Mobile, is designed to expand the scope and
delivery of healthcare in rural areas. The technology-enabled,
comprehensive offering provides a range of health services to villagers
located more than three kilometers from public health service providers.
While it will help cure numerous afflictions and prevent countless others,
the program is expected to make a transformational difference with regard
to maternal and infant health problems, as well as chronic ailments. It is
also especially effective at delivering preventive medicine, which is
lacking in most villages.
"Mobile 104 will enhance the lives of rural Indians dramatically,"
said Satyam Founder and Chairman B. Ramalinga Raju. "Too many villagers
are troubled by ailments that are entirely preventable or easily cured in
this day and age; they simply need access to basic healthcare, which this
program provides. Satyam is proud to participate in the initiative and we
will leverage our expertise with other rural healthcare programs and
public/private partnerships to ensure that its expansion is rapid and
seamless."
Much of the expertise Raju mentioned concerns the Byrraju Foundation
and the Emergency Medical Research Institute, organizations he founded.
Satyam works closely with the Byrraju Foundation, which establishes basic
infrastructure elements in Indian villages, including sanitation,
education, clean water and healthcare. The Foundation works on the premise
that people must be healthy before they can tackle other problems. As such,
healthcare is its primary concern. Additionally, Satyam established EMRI,
and was integral in the creation of Call 108, an emergency number based on
911 in the United States. Both Byrraju and EMRI have been tremendous
successes; their programs, which began in Andhra Pradesh, are being
replicated throughout India.
With each MHU serving villages of about 1,500 people for four hours
per month, each vehicle will be able to visit approximately 56 villages
every month. The "fixed-day" approach will enable villagers to adjust
their schedules to accommodate MHU visits. For instance, residents of a
particular village -- via posters and other marketing initiatives -- will
know that the vehicle will show up on the 3rd of each month. By November,
the service will deploy 475 vehicles and cover 50,000 rural villages -- 40
million people, most of whom live below the poverty line.
MHUs include paramedics, pharmacists and lab technicians. The modern,
state-of-the-art vehicles are equipped to carry numerous drugs and can
store blood/urine samples for testing. They even feature a television that
can show public health education programs. Services they provide include
pre- and post-natal checkups, height and weight monitoring, nutritional
supplements for mothers and children, basic blood and urine lab
investigations and screening, advice and medicine dispensation for chronic
illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy and anemia. When
seriously ill patients show up at an MHU, an ambulance is summoned via
EMRI (Call 108) and the sick person is brought to an Andhra Pradesh
hospital.
Moreover, because cultural sensitivities in many rural areas prevent
some women from pursuing care they may need, the 104 Mobile program trains
female health volunteers (known as ASHA workers) in rural communities.
These female healthcare providers conduct beneficiary visits and provide
villagers with 24-hour access to 104 advice, often via mobile phone.
Eventually, Andhra Pradesh will feature 40,000 ASHAs.
Satyam is enabling much of the technology that drives the program. Its
engineers designed the vehicles -- with rural India in mind -- and have
established the infrastructure to support a rapidly growing initiative.
Other examples of how technology enables the Mobile 104 abound:
-- Each patient is assigned a number, which is stored in a secure
database. The tracking number, when accessed, will provide a patient's
entire medical history. This will facilitate care and prevent distribution
of drugs to which a patient is allergic.
-- The program is web-enabled; patients can communicate with the call
center via phone, fax, chat, SMS or email. In addition, ASHA workers can
send patient data from field visits via SMS.
-- Medical information is uploaded immediately to hospitals, enabling
immediate follow-up.
-- Results of each patient contact are tracked daily in a database.
-- Villagers are connected with other healthcare services for which
they qualify.
-- Mobile units use GPS to find remote villages quickly.
"We are proud to apply our world-class technology and healthcare
management expertise, along with all we have learned with EMRI and the
Byrraju Foundation, to help make Mobile 104 a success," Raju said. "The
comprehensive, integrated virtual platform will enable Satyam to
collaborate with healthcare delivery networks -- government and private
hospitals, clinics, etc. -- to transform the way rural Indians receive
medical treatment."
About
Satyam (NYSE: SAY), a leading global business and information
technology services company, delivers consulting, systems integration, and
outsourcing solutions to clients in 20* industries and 66* countries.
Satyam leverages deep industry and functional expertise, leading
technology practices, and an advanced, global delivery model to help
clients transform their highest-value business processes and improve their
business performance. The company's 51,643* professionals excel in
engineering and product development, supply chain management, client
relationship management, business process quality, business intelligence,
enterprise integration, and infrastructure management, among other key
capabilities.
Satyam development and delivery centers in the US, Canada, Brazil, the
UK, Hungary, Egypt, UAE, India, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia
serve 670* clients, including more than one third of the Fortune 500. For
more information, see www.satyam.com.
*As of June 30, 2008
Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of section 27A of Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to certain risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Satyam undertakes
no duty to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of the
risks associated with our business, please see the discussions under the
heading "Risk Factors" in our report on Form 6-K concerning the quarter
ended June 30, 2008, furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission
on July 25, 2008 and the other reports filed with the Securities Exchange
Commission from time to time. These filings are available at www.sec.gov.
For more information please contact:
James Swords, PR Representative
Satyam
+1-703-877-2225
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