Ten BD Associates Head to Africa as Part of Unique Volunteer Project

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., and NEW YORK, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX), a global medical technology company, and the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) today announced an innovative collaboration to help combat HIV/AIDS in Zambia. A group of ten BD associates from around the world will work with CMMB at five rural healthcare facilities to assist in the fight against the deadly disease. More than 350 BD associates worldwide applied to participate in this effort; several of those selected are specialists with a laboratory background.

The BD team is scheduled to arrive in Zambia on May 8, 2005. During their two-week assignment, the volunteers will perform various functions, including: Laboratory Trainer -- to focus on raising awareness and increasing best practices for routine lab and HIV/AIDS testing; General Assistants -- to teach basic skills to local residents; and Construction Workers -- to repair and renovate hospitals and clinics.

"CMMB is proud to partner in this model employee volunteer program that demonstrates BD's leadership among its industry in the global response to HIV/AIDS," said John ("Jack") F. Galbraith, President and CEO of CMMB. "This initiative utilizes CMMB's longstanding global volunteer program expertise and BD's resources and talent to make a real difference in the Zambian communities where the volunteers will work."

"This program is a celebration of BD associates' belief in our corporate purpose of helping all people live healthy lives," said Edward J. Ludwig, BD Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "CMMB is the ideal partner for this program because of their heritage and expertise in the developing world and their exclusive focus on global healthcare issues."

In preparation for the trip, BD associates from offices worldwide have contributed funds, which were in part matched by BD. Additionally, the volunteers' own fundraising initiative consisted of t-shirts and wristbands they developed to be sold both inside and outside the company. The funds raised will be used to purchase everything from textbooks to extension ladders for the clinics in Zambia. BD has also secured the donation of five new computers.

BD's own product donations will include phlebotomy items (tubes, needle holders, sharps containers), labware (petrie dishes, pipettes), syphilis tests, syringes, needles, thermometers, alcohol swabs and antiseptic scrubs.

"Currently, an estimated 16 percent of Zambia's population is HIV positive. The average life expectancy is 37 and there is limited access to healthcare, especially in rural areas," said Dr. Elizabeth Musaba, Country Director, Zambia, CMMB. "We are thankful to the BD volunteers who will work in some of the neediest rural Zambian communities."

BD hopes to be able to conduct additional volunteer programs in other locations in the future.

About CMMB

Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), founded in 1928, is the leading U.S.-based Catholic charity focusing exclusively on international healthcare, particularly the well being of women and children. CMMB works collaboratively and without discrimination to deliver solutions to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, and provide primary healthcare in Latin American and the Caribbean. Global initiatives include recruitment and placement of medical volunteers, medicine and medical supply shipments, emergency development and training grants for in-country primary healthcare workers. In FY 2004, CMMB provided $128 million in healthcare assistance in more than 48 countries worldwide. http://www.cmmb.org .

About BD

BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, BD reported total revenues of $4.935 billion.

SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company); Catholic Medical Mission Board

(CMMB)

SOURCE BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)

Patricia A. Spinella, Investor Relations, +1-201-847-5453, or Colleen T. White,
Corporate Communications, +1-201-847-5369, both of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)