GE Expands Healthcare Initiative to Hospitals in Ghana; Part of $20 million humanitarian initiative to provide medical and infrastructure equipment across Africa.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- GE announced today it has expanded its existing African healthcare initiative to improve healthcare provision and related infrastructure at two additional hospitals in Kumasi and Kintampo, Ghana.

"We hope that GE can play a role in reducing mortality rates by providing sustainable access to cleaner water, medical treatment and power in Ghana, and in the future, additional African countries," said GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. "By combining GE's wide range of technology, we are bringing together resources to provide long-term solutions to community needs."

This effort by GE Healthcare, GE Infrastructure and GE Industrial is part of the parent company's five-year, $20 million humanitarian project to provide a combination of healthcare and power generation equipment, water filtration systems, appliances and lighting to a number of sites throughout Africa.

On October 3, GE Vice President of Corporate Citizenship Bob Corcoran visited the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, located in central Ghana. He was joined by KATH Chief Executive Dr. Nsiah-Asare to commission the product donations, which provide the much-needed infrastructure and technology to enable lifesaving healthcare. These include a fluoroscopy unit for radiology, ultrasounds, incubators, monitors, lighting, electrical distribution equipment, water purification and Internet connectivity.

"KATH serves about half of the 20 million people of Ghana as well as the neighboring Burkina Faso and the Cote d'Ivoire as the main tertiary referral centre," said KATH Chief Executive Dr. Nsiah-Asare. "The GE donations have come at an opportune time to complement these interventions and boost the capacity of the hospital to render better services to its numerous patients."

On October 4, Corcoran will travel north to commission the equipment at the Kintampo District Hospital, which serves a population of 160,000. Ultrasounds, X-rays, anesthesia, incubators, power generation equipment, lighting and a water distribution and purification system will enable the rural hospital to help reduce disease, and lower maternal and infant mortality. GE has also donated lab equipment and provided Internet connectivity to Kintampo's Rural Health Training School and the Health Research Centre.

Ghana Health Service Director General Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa said, "The commissioning today at Kintampo will affect more Ghanaians than any other single healthcare facility in the country. The Rural Health Training School, the District Hospital and the Health Research Centre provide training for Ghana's entire para-medical staff. Our collaboration with GE will enable a better future and impact many lives."

GE donated the equipment to the U.S.-based not-for-profit, Assist International, which in turn donated the equipment to the Ghana Health Services. Assist International and GECAD, a local distributor for GE, provide shipping logistics, ground-level support and site preparation, and on-site coordination to ensure timely, cost-effective and quality construction, as well as sustainable operation of the facilities and equipment.

Yibrah Tesfazghi, GE Corporate Regional Executive for Africa said, "We began our initiative last year, with the majority of work centered in Ghana and smaller donations in Mozambique and Tanzania. There is a tremendous amount of need in Africa, but GE hopes that it can be replicated in a way that is both practical and sustainable."

GE's African healthcare initiative was officially launched at two sites in Ghana last year. Medical equipment donations including a cardiothoracic center and critical care monitors assisted the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra with its mission to train doctors from all of Africa. Medical equipment, power generators, refrigerators and freezers enabled a local clinic in the rural town of Asesewa to upgrade into a district hospital with a doctor on staff.

Corcoran said, "In addition to equipment donations, we provide the necessary training and support to ensure maximum product efficiency. By combining GE's technology with our training and management skills, we will ensure a complete and sustainable service in these communities."

GE has engaged its African American Forum (AAF) to establish on-going relationships at the community level. Each site, once launched, is "adopted" by a GE business-based AAF chapter, which engages senior managers in site visits, initiates benchmarking studies and tracks community health progress. AAF has also sponsored the 2005 "Africa Relief Fund" project to collect school supplies. More than 22,000 items have been collected to send to select African schools.

GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.