Olympus 2013 Annual Report Download - page 29

54 OLYMPUS Annual Report 2013 55OLYMPUS Annual Report 2013
Social Contributions
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign in Cooperation with Japanese Government Agencies
In February 2007, Olympus launched the Brave Circle
Campaign to eradicate colorectal cancer. The aim of this
campaign is to reduce the number of deaths from colorectal
cancer by encouraging people in the target age group of 40
years and older to have diagnostic checks. In July 2009,
the Brave Circle Steering Committee, which heads the
campaign, was granted the status of special non-profi t
organization (NPO), and the initiative has evolved into a social
contribution activity involving many companies and
organizations, including Olympus. Programs in fi scal 2013
included providing booklets explaining diagnostic checks to
people that are eligible for a government program that
provides coupons for free colorectal checks. These events
were organized in cooperation with 850 municipalities. In
addition, the campaign included the Colorectal Cancer Quiz
Rally and the Intestine Tunnel Adventure events conducted in
conjunction with 27 prefectural governments and central
government agencies to further promote colorectal checks.
Olympus is actively participating in the activities of the Brave
Circle Steering Committee as an offi cial sponsor.
North America: Olympus Corporation of the Americas (OCA) / Olympus America Inc. (OAI) /
Olympus Imaging America Inc. (OIMA)
Support for Early Cancer Detection and Treatment
Aiming to communicate the importance of the early
detection of cancer, two Olympus employees are sharing
their own experience with colorectal cancer. This bold effort
has gained attention not only among Olympus employees
but from the media as well. In addition, Olympus designates
one month of each year as Colon Cancer Awareness
Month. In 2012, the third Be a Star campaign was held
during this period, through which we collected donations
totaling more than US$4,000 to fund colorectal cancer
research and prevention activities. Together with a
contribution from the Company, these donations were
turned over to the medical scholarship committee of
Olympus Corporation of the Americas so that they could be
used to support cancer sufferers and help educate
healthcare specialists. Further, Peripheral Vision, a band
consisting of Olympus employees that has won local
entertainment events, encouraged people to make
donations for supporting cancer treatment.
Europe: Olympus Europa Holding GmbH (OEH)
Support for Improving Ophthalmology in Myanmar
Olympus Europa Holding GmbH is supporting the activities
of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Project Vision
as it works to save people in Myanmar from losing their
sight. Through this project, four physicians traveled to
Myanmar, where they worked with local medical
practitioners to provide free eye treatment and eye surgery
during the month of February 2013. In addition to treating
patients, key focuses of the project are the training and
education of local doctors and the improvement of local
medical infrastructure for ophthalmology, with its long-term
goal being to improve the overall environment regarding
ophthalmology in Myanmar.
Donation of Microscopes to Benin, Africa
In February 2013, the Company donated CX22LED
biological microscopes to the country of Benin in Africa.
When presenting the donation, Chairman Yasuyuki Kimoto
was greeted as a guest of honor by Benin President Yayi
Boni. The microscopes are now being used in the Centre
National Hospitalier Universitaire to diagnose such infectious
diseases as malaria.
In regions south of the Sahara Desert in Africa,
approximately 600,000 children are infected with cerebral
malaria each year, with one in every fi ve of them passing
away because of the disease. In Benin, 43% of patients
that visit the Centre National Hospitalier Universitaire are
seeking treatment for malaria. Hearing that Olympus was
promoting awareness regarding the United Nations’
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Dr. Daiki Murakami,
First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Benin, contacted
the Company to explain Benin’s medical situation and
the type of equipment that is available in the country. It was
this episode that inspired the Company to donate the
microscopes.
Olympus staff with Benin President Yayi Boni (center) and Zomahoun
Idossou Ru n (far right), Ambassador of Benin to Japan
Tokyo Health Walk 2012
Microscope donated by Olympus in use at Centre National Hospitalier
Universitaire
Employee band participating in a local event to encourage people
to support cancer treatment
Activities around the World
China: Olympus (China) Co., Ltd. (OCN)
Receipt of 2012 Award for Most Infl uential CSR Activity
Since fiscal 2009, Olympus has been conducting a
gastrointestinal health education campaign in China to
educate the public and increase the early detection rate
of stomach cancer. In fiscal 2010, gastroenterologists
presented briefings for the local media in 20 cities. The
purpose of this initiative was to spread awareness of the
concept of the “three earlies (early discovery, early diagnosis,
early treatment).” Further, Olympus began to implement a
variety of initiatives based on public participation in fiscal
2011. In collaboration with two media organizations in the
fashion and healthcare field, it staged a series of “Health
Lectures for 100 People” for the readers of these
organizations’ publications. Presented by medical specialists,
the lectures were held in 10 cities. The Company also
launched a major campaign in Beijing under the title “Wei ai
wei wei” (for the sake of love, love your stomach).
In 2012, these activities were recognized for their significant
contributions to the development of public health enterprises,
and Olympus was presented the 2012 award for most
influential CSR activity. This award is presented jointly by an
influential Chinese PR network, a public service organization,
and an organization for promoting active CSR initiatives and
was designed to encourage companies to create and
expand CSR projects by recognizing superior projects.
Brave Circle Campaign event
held in Chiba Prefecture in
September 2012
Brave Circle Campaign event held in Miyagi Prefecture
in November 2012
Olympus CSR
Olympus employees at award ceremony