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{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Mafikeng (South Africa)/Basel, 27 July 2004\line \line {\b New 
cancer and diabetes services inaugurated on Phelophepa Healthcare Train in rural South Africa} \line Unique 
Roche-sponsored healthcare project celebrates its tenth anniversary\line \line Today 
Roche officially inaugurated two new services \u8211? cancer screening and diabetes prevention \u8211? on the Phelophepa 
Train, a South African clinic on rails which Roche has sponsored since its inception 10 years ago. The 
ceremony took place in Mafikeng, one of the many towns and villages Phelophepa visits as it travels 
through the provinces of South Africa. The train provides rural areas with primary healthcare services, 
including eye, dental and general medical care and health education programmes. The new Phelophepa services 
were made possible by a substantial increase in Roche funding, announced in late 2003.\line \line The 
dedication ceremony was attended by nearly 2,000 people, including Ms Edna Molewa, Premier of the North 
West Province, and Roche Chairman and CEO Franz B. Humer. In his speech at the ceremony Humer explained 
the reasons for Roche\u8217?s long-standing support for the Phelophepa project: \u8216?Improving access to medical 
care is an important concern for Roche. We are therefore very proud of what Phelophepa has achieved 
so far, and we are fully committed to continuing our support for the train. Phelophepa is an outstanding 
example of an innovative, highly effective and sustainable project. It is run by a team of skilled and 
highly dedicated people who had an idea, believed in it and made it happen. This makes it a particularly 
good example of Roche\u8217?s philosophy on development aid: we believe in supporting novel, practical solutions 
that are tailored to local conditions and needs and involve working with committed local partners.\u8217?\line \line Lynette 
Coetzee , the Manager of the Phelophepa Project, added: \u8216?This year marks some significant anniversaries. 
Not only are we celebrating 10 years of democracy in South Africa, but also 10 years of Phelophepa. 
Over the last decade Phelophepa\u8217?s clinics and community outreach programmes have made it a Train of 
Miracles for more than seven million people in rural South Africa. Roche is the only external sponsor 
that has been on board from the start. We are proud to have Roche as a supporter. In addition to funding, 
it provides us with strong moral support and with expertise that helps us to play a leading role in 
healthcare delivery in rural communities. We are therefore very pleased to have Roche join in today\u8217?s 
celebration of Phelophepa\u8217?s tenth anniversary and the inauguration of its two new services.\u8217?\line \line {\b Phelophepa\u8217?s 
new services \u8212? diabetes prevention and cancer screening} \line The number of people with 
type 2 diabetes appears to be increasing significantly in rural South Africa. Fortunately, much can 
be done to slow or stop this trend, since diabetes can often be prevented simply by eating healthily, 
maintaining a good weight and getting regular physical exercise. The Phelophepa Train can now help people 
to prevent the onset of diabetes and recognise its symptoms. The train has also started screening for 
cancer \u8211? particularly breast cancer. This is important because, in the areas served by Phelophepa, many 
patients with lumps and bumps are unaware that they may be malignant and therefore fail to mention them 
when they see a doctor or nurse. The Phelophepa staff are not able to treat cancer and diabetes patients, 
since the train averages just one one-week visit every two years at each of the stops on its route. 
The Phelophepa staff do however draw on the support of local clinics, hospitals, doctors, social workers, 
and sometimes even traditional healers to reach out to rural communities. If cancer or diabetes is detected, 
the patient will be directed to the nearest hospital or clinic for further care.\line \line {\b About 
Phelophepa} \line Phelophepa (the name means \u8216?good, clean health\u8217?) is a clinic on rails 
that has been bringing basic medical care to remote regions of South Africa since 1994. Today the Phelophepa 
Healthcare Train has 16 coaches, weighs 600 tonnes and is fully equipped to provide general, dental, 
eye and psychiatric care. The train is under way 36 weeks a year, visiting regions with inadequate access 
to medical services. The staff consist of 14 employees and around 40 student interns preparing for careers 
in a variety of health-related fields who each do 14 days of volunteer service. So far, the Health Train 
has reached more than seven million people in remote regions of South Africa \u8211? among them many women 
and children who previously had no access to basic health care. \line \line {\b About 
Roche\u8217?s support of Phelophepa} \line Roche was one of the first companies to provide funding 
for the Phelophepa Healthcare Train, which was founded by the state railway company Transnet, and the 
Group is the project\u8217?s main sponsor outside South Africa today. In recognition of Roche\u8217?s ongoing commitment 
to Phelophepa, the coach housing the train\u8217?s health clinic was renamed the \u8216?Roche Health Clinic\u8217? in 
2001. In 2003 Roche substantially increased its support for Phelophepa. The additional funding was used 
to set up the new cancer screening and diabetes services. Part of the money was used to significantly 
improve the train\u8217?s healthcare programmes for school children.\line \line {\b About 
Roche} \line Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world\u8217?s leading 
innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche 
is number one in the global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals for cancer and 
a leader in virology and transplantation medicine. As a supplier of products and services for the prevention, 
diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people\u8217?s 
health and quality of life. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances 
and research and development agreements with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests 
in Genentech and Chugai.\line \line \line Additional information\line - 
Phelophepa: www.phelophepa.co.za (http://www.phelophepa.co.za)\line - Sustainability at Roche: www.roche.com/home/sustainability.htm 
\par}
{\pard \par}
{\pard\sb180\f1\fs22 {\b F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd}\line 4070 Basel\line Switzerland \par}
{\pard\sb180\f1\fs22 Corporate Communications\line Roche Group Media Relations \par}
{\pard\sb180\f1\fs22 Tel. +41 61 688 88 88\line Fax +41 61 688 27 75\line www.roche.com \par}
}