India Infoline News Service / 10:07 , Aug 19, 2010
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Delivering Hope Program has committed US$ 2,223,295 to support efforts to combat Hepatitis B and C in India
Liver Foundation, West Bengal is coordinating a first of its kind collaboration among public health facilities to assess the impact of liver disease and in particular hepatitis C on Indian health care system, the organization announced today in New Delhi.
HCV: The Indian Face and Action is a two year operational research project that is first serious attempt to assess the impact of liver disease and hepatitis C in order to be able to advocate for robust viral hepatitis awareness, prevention and educational programs. The project, launched early this year is supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation (BMSF) Delivering Hope Program through a grant of about Rs19.5mn [US$415857] also aims improve diagnosis skills for 500 blood bank and laboratory technicians while enhancing prevention efforts among high risk groups.
“WHO estimates that it cost between one and three US dollars to prevent Hepatitis B through vaccination but we know it costs about US$5000 to treat a person with hepatitis B infection. For hepatitis C, there is no vaccine but it is curable and therefore awareness and prevention efforts should be paired with early detection, hence our training of laboratory technicians,” says Dr. Abhijit Chowdhury, Secretary-Liver Foundation West Bengal who is leading this consortium.
“Through this initiative we aim to inform public health policy regarding the significance and impact that a liver disease has, HCV in particular, in the general population. Additionally, we would work to foster coordinated HCV prevention and awareness activities through action targeted at key risk populations in awareness or scientific understanding and transmission”, he added.
BMSF Delivering Hope has committed an amount of about Rs105mn [US$2,223,000] to eight non-profit organizations partners across India since 2007. In the year 2010, BMSF would support ‘Americares India Foundation’ in Mumbai, ‘Baptist Christian Hospital’ in Tezpur in addition to HCV: The Indian Face and Action to enhance awareness on Hepatitis in the country. Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata has taken an endeavor to assess the impact of the intervention conducted by Liver foundation, West Bengal which has been also supported by BMSF.
“The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has a long track record of harnessing expert resources and community support to bring measurable advances in the response to public health threats such as Hepatitis and HIV around the world.” said John Damonti, President, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. “Our Delivering Hope Program builds on our expertise and commitment in addressing health disparities to help coordinate the response to hepatitis in countries where the need is the greatest.”
The project aims to determine the footfall in hospitals due to liver diseases and also map the healthcare resource utilization patterns in liver diseases in India. Initiatives will be undertaken to spread awareness on HCV prevention and care through action targeted at key risk populations.
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