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Skin Health Camp in Pakistan
Tannery workers treated on skin disorders |
04/05 |
BASF Pakistan held two Skin Health Camps in Korangi and Kazur in 2005. These projects were the first of their kind ever held by any company in Pakistan and will help to build a strong relationship with BASF Pakistan's customers and ensure sustainable development. Altogether, almost 700 tannery workers and their families got free medical examination.
Korangi is a major industrial area in the suburbs of Karachi while Kazur is a small city near Lahore. At both places many tanneries of various capacities and specifications can be found. Most of them are customers of BASF Pakistan. Export of leather items forms a sizeable portion of Pakistan’s total export turnover. Tannery workers mainly work with chemicals and therefore suffer from various types of skin disorders.
For the Skin Health Camps BASF Pakistan cooperated with Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA), a national body of tannery owners. PTA appreciated BASF Pakistan's concern towards the well-being of their workers and arranged the logistics.
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Approximately 560 tannery workers came to the Skin Health Camp in Korangi, some of them also brought their families. A number of workers from other nearby factories also seized this unique chance. The non-profit organization "Welfare Association for Dermatological Patients" sent dermatologists and volunteers to examine the workers free of charge. They prescribed medication for general skin ailments in advance. BASF Pakistan purchased these to distribute to workers according to the doctors' prescription.
In Kazur, banners on prominent sites and invitation letters to the tannery owners advertised the camp. A leading dermatologist voluntarily examined the workers, while BASF Pakistan arranged medication free of charge. 120 workers and some local residents took advantage of this service.
By actively taking on workers' skin diseases, BASF Pakistan contributes to the often neglected issue of workers' health as one of BASF’s projects aiming at Sustainable Development. As healthy workers are also more productive, Skin Health Camps are a contribution to our corporate goal to "Help our customers to be more successful".
Due to the great success, BASF Pakistan plans to continue holding Skin Health Camps in the future. A third camp has already been scheduled for fall 2005 in Sialkot, another industrial hub for leather tanneries.
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