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The Gallery At Bristol-Myers Squibb Portrays Changing Face Of AIDS In Africa


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’A Time For Hope’ Photo Exhibit Chronicles Efforts To Help Thousands Of Women And Children

LAWRENCEVILLE, NEW JERSEY (October 25, 2005) -- The Gallery at Bristol-Myers Squibb today opened a special photo exhibit: “A Time for Hope: Changing the Face of AIDS in Africa.” The exhibit illustrates not only the devastation wrought by the AIDS pandemic in Africa, but also shows that with medicines and broad-based community support programs, people can combat the illness and its impact on the broader community.

The photo exhibit chronicles the efforts of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation’s SECURE THE FUTURE® program, working with partners across Africa and elsewhere, to develop sustainable solutions, build capacity and create models that can be replicated elsewhere of community support and education and medical research and care. The company has made an unprecedented $150 million commitment since 1999 in 10 countries in the region.

“Even though the AIDS pandemic continues to threaten families, communities and generations in unimaginable ways, hope is emerging,” said John Damonti, president of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. “As you look into the eyes of the AIDS-infected children being cared for in the world’s largest pediatric AIDS treatment center or into the hearts of home health workers who walk countless miles to ease the suffering of others, you see signs of hope. Through this photo exhibit, you see the devastation of AIDS in Africa but also the positive impact that effective medical and community programs are having.”

The photographs are the work of Charlotte Raymond, a resident of New Hope, Pennsylvania, and an award winning photographer at Bristol-Myers Squibb. She has traveled to Africa to photograph the faces and record the stories of the women and children - the most vulnerable populations impacted by the global AIDS pandemic in some of the hardest hit countries of sub-Saharan Africa.

Most recently, SECURE THE FUTURE has focused on two areas that the exhibit chronicles. Community treatment and support centers have been establish as model programs that offer treatment and care to some 7,000 patients as well as community support with food, home-based care, income generating projects and counseling to make treatment effective. And a far ranging children’s initiative seeks to treat 80,000 children, build new children’s clinics and train thousands of local health care workers through the establishment of a Pediatric AIDS Corps. Many of these programs are shown in the exhibit through the eyes of those affected and the people of Africa who have come to their aid.

The show will remain on view through December 16 at the 5,560 square-foot Gallery at Bristol-Myers Squibb, which overlooks a 12-acre lake at the company’s facility on Route 206 in Lawrenceville, three miles south of Princeton. It is open to the public at no charge. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. For further information, please call 609-252-6275. The Gallery will be closed Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical and related health care products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life.

For more information, contact: Jennifer Lolli, JS2 Communications, 212-905-6261, jlolli@js2comm.com



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