AMD has undertaken a number of initiatives towards environmental stewardship—whether it’s by sourcing renewable energy for its offices, demonstrating best-in-class manufacturing with wafer suppliers, or efficiently powering millions of AMD-enabled devices.
Susan Moore leads AMD’s global government affairs and corporate responsibility engagement, and is president of the company’s charitable foundation. Drawing upon AMD’s legacy of over 50 years in the semiconductor industry, she advances the company’s position as a valued partner in the innovation and societal benefits of high-performance computing, visualization technologies and the data centre.
Enjoy the reading of an interview focused on AMD India CSR Activity – Clean Birth Kit Distribution.
What is the current standing of maternal healthcare in India? Why is it important to have clean birthing kits?
Data from the Ministry of Home Affairs indicates that the maternal mortality rate in India is 130 deaths per 100,000 live births, and neo-natal mortality rate is 24 deaths per 1,000 live births. One death is too many, particularly for each affected family. A large number of these deaths are preventable with awareness and access to clean birthing procedures. Fatal infections can be caused by unclean supplies used during birthing, such as dirty, rusted knives, hard cow dung or broken glass to cut the umbilical cord. Having access to clean birthing kits helps reduce the risk of infection.
How do clean birthing kits help save lives and improve birth rates?
Each clean birthing kit carries ten essential items to provide a sanitized, hygienic and safe environment for childbirth: a deodorant bar of soap, examination gloves, re-closable plastic bags, non-woven gauze sponges, alcohol prep pads, a plastic cord clamp, a receiving blanket, razor blade, plastic sheeting and an infant hat. These resources are especially important if a childbirth occurs outside a hospital facility, which can be the case in rural, remote villages.
Why and how was this initiative identified by AMD? And, how does this align with your values as an organization?
For more than Fifteen years, AMD has operated successfully in India designing and bringing to market processors that power technology devices. Our communities are an essential element to our success and culture. We value our employees’ devotion to local corporate social responsibility causes close to their hearts.
When AMD was invited by the philanthropic organisation, Global Health Charities to participate in their drive to reduce infection-related deaths at birth in India, we immediately joined hands. Over 135 AMD employees, including our country managers, in Bangalore and Hyderabad united to assemble about 1,000 clean birthing kits to be distributed to Indian families.
From identification to execution, what impact has this program had on its beneficiaries?
In addition to partnering with Global Health Charities for the assembly of the clean birthing kits, AMD also partnered with United Way of Bengaluru and United Way of Hyderabad for delivery of the kits to families. We worked with public health officials in Mandur district near Bangalore and Adilabad in Hyderabad to identify communities where these kits were most needed. We hosted awareness sessions on clean birth practices and distributed 1000 kits to expectant mothers through Public Health Care (PHC) Centers and Anganwadis.
You mentioned that AMD encourages its employees to participate in CSR programs. Why is it important for employees to get involved in such programs?
Company-sponsored community service is an integral part of life at AMD India. In events chosen by employees, teams have planted trees to green our cities, spent time with the elderly and ill in palliative care centers, and supported students through STEM education in under-served schools. In 2018, AMD’s workforce in India volunteered over 770 hours in their local communities. Internal annual surveys consistently reflect employee pride in AMD through community engagement. They reveal that employees who volunteer are more engaged in our company’s overall success compared to those who don’t participate.
(CopyRight@indiacsr)
