Mobile Books for Nursing and Health:
Merck, Elsevier Science and ICN team up for better health

LONDON, 4 December 2001 --- An innovative partnership between the
International Council of Nurses (ICN), the US-based pharmaceutical company,
Merck & Co., Inc. and Elsevier Science (formerly Harcourt) will deliver
state-of-the-art medical information to thousands of nurses in remote
clinics and health centres in developing countries. The nursing Mobile
Library, housed in a transportable trunk resilient to moisture, insects and
hard knocks, was today officially launched in London, where the first 23
units will ship from the Elsevier Science warehouse.

The mobile libraries contain more than 80 titles covering topics from
disease prevention, surgery and anesthesia to how to look after a
refrigerator and manage a health center store*. The first units will be
shipped to Kenya, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Merck & Co., Inc. is funding the
start-up of the project and donating multiple copies of the Merck Manual and
the Merck Manual on Geriatric Care. Elsevier Science is contributing
preferred pricing for books from its list and expertise in coordinating the
packing and shipping of the trunks.

"Nurses are on the front lines, delivering more than three quarters of
primary health care in this region, stated Stella Zengwa, President of the
Zimbabwe Nurses Association. Bringing up to date knowledge to the field,
will be a fabulous resource and tool for the main health workers in
developing countries.

"Merck's partnership in the Mobile Library project recognizes a shared
conviction that quality health care begins with access to quality health
care information. An informed nursing profession unlocks the door to
prevention and treatment for so many who have gone without," explained Gary
Zelko, Director and Publisher of the Merck Publishing Group.

"What better way to reinforce the inherent value of books in our global
society," said Mary Ging, Executive Vice-president of Sales and Marketing,
Health Sciences Division, Elsevier Science.

Nursing organizations have also taken up support of the project with zeal.
The national nurses associations of Germany, Denmark, Iceland, New Zealand,
Norway, Spain, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, the Nursing College of Wayne
State University, and the Florence Nightingale International Foundation,
among others, have committed to sponsor the cost of sending a library to a
location in need.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of 124 national
nurses' associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide.
Operated by nurses for nurses since 1899, ICN is the international voice of
nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies
globally.

Merck & Co., Inc. is a leading research-driven pharmaceutical products and
services company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a
broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health.

Elsevier Science is the world's leading scientific, technical and medical
information provider and publishes over 1,600 journals, over 2000 books per
year as well as secondary databases. Elsevier Science key brands include:
Academic Press; Butterworth-Heinemann; Cell Press; Churchill-Livingstone;
Engineering Information; Excerpta Medica; The Lancet; MD Consult; MDL;
Mosby; North-Holland; Pergamon; ScienceDirect and WB Saunders. Elsevier
Science is a member of the Reed Elsevier plc group (www.reedelsevier.com), a
world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the
scientific, legal and business-to-business industry sectors, Reed Elsevier
provides high value and flexible information solutions to professional end
users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a delivery method.
(www.elsevier.com)

*A complete list of the Mobile Library titles is included in the press pack
CD Rom.

For further information contact Linda Carrier-Walker
Tel : (+41 22) 908 0100; fax : (+41 22) 908 0101; email: [email protected]
Web site http://www.icn.ch

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'HIF-net at WHO': working together to improve access to reliable information
for healthcare workers and health professionals in developing and
transitional countries. Contact: Neil Pakenham-Walsh at