Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Marks World Hepatitis Day 2012 with New Grants F

StephenW

                               
                                                                                                        

                        press release               

                               

                                        July 26, 2012, 4:45 p.m. EDT                               

                                Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Marks World Hepatitis Day 2012 with New Grants Focused on Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Patient Empowerment in China and India                                Foundation's Delivering Hope(TM) program wins Asia's Best CSR Practices Award                       
               
       
       
       
                                 
                     
                                    
                                

   

                                            

                                

NEW YORK, Jul 26, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) --The Bristol-Myers       Squibb Foundation has awarded four new grants totaling US $1.69       million to improve prevention, care and support of hepatitis B (HBV) and       hepatitis C (HCV) in China and India as part of its Delivering Hope(TM)       program. The grants, announced to coincide with World Hepatitis Day on       July 28, support initiatives to empower hepatitis patients to take an       active role in disease management and advocacy. This focus on patient       empowerment recognizes the significant health disparities that exist in       these countries but also the progress that has been made to address them       through disease awareness efforts and education targeted to the health       care community.                                

                                

China and India together have an estimated 123 million people       chronically infected with HBV and 59 million people chronically infected       with HCV, accounting for almost 50 percent of all HBV and HCV infections       worldwide. The recipients of the new grants - the China Foundation for       Hepatitis Prevention and Control, the HOPE Initiative, the Liver       Foundation West Bengal, and a coalition that includes the United Way of       Mumbai, the National Liver Foundation and AmeriCares India - are       long-term partners of Delivering Hope(TM) whose work has produced       measurable outcomes to improve awareness, care and support for hepatitis       B and C in China and India. The impact of Delivering Hope(TM)       programs in China, in particular, was recognized by CMO Asia with an       Asia's Best CSR Practices Award in the category of Concern for Health       during a ceremony on July 20, 2012.                                

                                

"The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has been working with partners in       Asia for the past 10 years, helping mobilize communities to improve the       prevention, care and support of hepatitis B and C," said John Damonti,       president, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. "Over the past decade, our       focus has evolved from building infrastructure and educating lay health       care workers to empowering patients to advocate for improved education,       support and services. This evolution is an important signal that,       together with our partners in the non-profit and government sectors, we       are making important progress in helping to address the needs of people       living with hepatitis B and C in communities that are disproportionately       impacted by these diseases."                                

                                

Organizations and projects receiving support include:                                

                                

--        China Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control will         receive US $401,687 over three years to create a hepatitis B and C         patient empowerment model to enhance patients' ability to manage their         disease, through the establishment of a network of patient support         groups and the development of hepatitis education materials and         trainings.                                

                                

--        HOPE Initiative will receive US $355,694 over three years to         create a hepatitis C patient support network, enabling patients to         share experiences and support through in-person meetings, a telephone         hotline and online forums. The organization also will conduct studies         to explore the effectiveness of blood donation and transfusion         regulations and advocate for greater awareness, timely screening and         affordable treatment with the government through its well-tested         school-to-community approach.                                

                                

--        Liver Foundation West Bengal will receive US $539,035 to         develop comprehensive interventions for patients who have hepatitis B         or C and comorbid non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes,         hypertension, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver disease.                                

                                

--        United Way of Mumbai, the National Liver Foundation and AmeriCares         India - three individual Delivering Hope(TM)         grant recipients - are joining together in efforts targeted at the         prevention and care of hepatitis B and C in pregnant women and women         of childbearing age, including hepatitis B immunizations, the         establishment of patient support groups, and patient and health care         provider education. The coalition will receive US $389,464 over two         years.