McCann Health Steps Up Global Public Health Commitment

NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- McCann Health, a McCann Worldgroup unit which last year became the only marketing communications agency to partner in a number of interrelated United Nations-driven alliances tackling global health issues, has moved ahead on two key initiatives related to this commitment.  Announcements were made at the Clinton Global Initiative and during high level meetings during the United Nations General Assembly sessions in New York City.

These two initiatives—one involving an agreement with a Nigerian government entity and the other a clean-water multinational partnership led by The Coca-Cola Company— also highlight several broader trends in the public health field. These include greater recognition of the role that marketing communications can play in stimulating user demand for public health products and services, and an increased emphasis on corporate, government and non-governmental organization (NGO) partnerships that actively deliver services on a continuing basis, and not just through donations.

As part of this stepped-up effort, McCann Health has made a substantial ongoing commitment in time, talent, and resources to reduce maternal and child deaths around the world in support of many health initiatives related to the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDG). McCann Health CEO John Cahill explained, "We are committed to using our deep experience in marketing and communications, and our worldwide network, to bring commercial approaches to creating demand for high quality healthcare products and services across Africa and Asia. Whereas education and awareness are necessary to achieve the MDGs, they are not sufficient. There needs to be renewed attention and increased resources to understanding and overcoming the personal, cultural and societal barriers to the adoption of healthcare products and services."

In one venture unveiled last week, McCann Health was announced as the communications partner joining in The Coca-Cola Company's launch of its EKOCENTER clean-water initiative through a seven-company corporate alliance that also includes IBM, Qualcomm and UPS. EKOCENTER provides safe drinking water and other basic necessities for communities in need. McCann Health also announced that it was joining the Kwara State Government in Nigeria and The Wellbeing Foundation Africa in a new public-private partnership to reduce maternal and childhood deaths in support of the UN's Every Woman, Every Child program.

"This groundbreaking partnership under the leadership and support of the Kwara State Government in Nigeria brings 'best-in-class' capabilities and experience from the private sector to work alongside government and the NGO community to tackle the devastating problems of maternal and childhood mortality in Nigeria," said Cahill. "Taken together, the EKOCENTER and the Kwara alliances demonstrate that business, governments and NGOs can unite in active and sustainable partnerships to transform health-related behavior that can prevent millions of deaths annually. We are very proud to be a significant partner in these new types of coalitions."

About McCann Health: Comprising the world's most connected health and wellness experts, McCann Health is the most awarded professional and consumer health communications network with the largest international expertise spanning 35 countries and 57 offices. McCann Health's global network includes McCann HumanCare, McCann Healthcare, McCann Regan Campbell Ward, McCann Torre Lazur-- as well as the leading worldwide medical communications practice, McCann Complete Medical. McCann Health is a part of McCann Worldgroup.

About McCann Worldgroup: McCann Worldgroup, part of  Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG), is a leading global marketing company with 23,000 employees in more than 120 countries comprising McCann Erickson (advertising), MRM (digital marketing/relationship management), Momentum (event marketing/promotion), McCann Health (professional/dtc communications), CRAFT (global adaptation and production), UM (media management), Weber Shandwick (public relations), and FutureBrand (consulting/design).

SOURCE McCann Health