Bristol-Myers Squibb Statement Regarding The SECURE THE FUTURE™ West Africa Second Technical Advisory Committee Meeting Held In Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE (November 9, 2001) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb is pleased to hold in Abidjan the second SECURE THE FUTURE™ West Africa Technical Advisory Committee Meeting .

SECURE THE FUTURE was launched two years ago in five southern Africa countries with some of the highest prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS in the world: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. To date, 68 projects have been approved in these five countries.

The goal of this program is to develop capacity within the African countries and provide innovative, relevant and sustainable solutions at both the community and medical levels to help these countries deal with the crisis. Findings from pilot SECURE THE FUTURE programs are to be shared with the international community. Bristol-Myers Squibb feels strongly that public/private partnerships such as SECURE THE FUTUREwhich are targeted against HIV/AIDS are vital to the economic and social development envisioned within the African region.

In June 2001, Bristol -Myers Squibb held in Dakar, Senegal, the first Technical Advisory Committee Meeting in support of the expansion of its SECURE THE FUTURE program into four west African countries. This took place as a result of the increase by the company of its original commitment of $100 million over five years in southern Africa. Pledging an additional $15 million for Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire in west Africa, raised the total level of commitment to $115 million. With this expansion of the program, Bristol-Myers Squibb is further committing its support to those countries who are fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. Although facing different HIV prevalence rates, Cote d’Ivoire , Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali are recognized by the international community for their efforts and demonstrated political commitment in dealing with HIV/AIDS .

The second meeting of the west African Advisory Committee brings together experts from various countries :Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, France, Canada, and Belgium.

"Through our philanthropic SECURE THE FUTURE program, our company is looking forward to help significant projects in the four participants countries, I am pleased that the Advisory Committee meeting taking place in Abidjan will bring this perspective closer" said John L. McGoldrick , executive vice president , Bristol-Myers Squibb.

For more information, please contact: Zenab Karim, Express Comm, 225-07-93-79-50; or Bob Laverty, Bristol-Myers Squibb, 1-609-252-5732

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