On the 26th of June in Stuttgart, small and medium-sized companies were awarded the small and medium-sized businesses prize for social responsibility in Baden-Wuerttemberg 2012. The nominated companies - chosen from 215 applications - included DÜRR DENTAL AG from Bietigheim-Bissingen.

"Social responsibility is a particular concern of ours. We take a special interest in health care projects. Internationally, we support Mercy Ships, and on a regional basis we help local sports associations," explained Martin Dürrstein, Chairman of the Executive Board, following the presentation.

The medical technology specialist has been involved with the Mercy Ships aid organization for more than a decade. Mercy Ships runs the largest hospital ship in Africa, the Africa Mercy - a ship with a crew of surgeons, nurses, builders, agricultural experts, and a large number of other helpers. 400 volunteers from throughout the world work on the hospital ship.

The family-run company Dürr Dental provides the charitable organization with products for its mobile dental surgeries. In addition, the "A new smile for Africa" campaign has already taken place twice. In order to improve the state of dental health in Western Africa somewhat, the company donated one dental treatment for each compressed air and suction system sold in Germany up to the end of 2011. And to motivate more dentists to work with the "Africa Mercy" project, an information evening was held.

In addition to thousands of free and often complex operations that are carried out on board the ship, "Mercy Ships" carries out necessary development products in conjunction with local partners in nearby villages. So as well as vital medical help, the organization provides relief supplies and on-site development aid to enable long-term, sustainable change in the countries it visits.