NEW JERSEY: $85K to Help Treat Asians with Hepatitis B

June 30, 2011

CDC 06-29-11

NEW JERSEY: " $85K to Help Treat Asians with Hepatitis B "

The Record (Bergen County, N.J.) (06.21.11):: Barbara

The Asian Liver Center at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck will use $85,000

in recent grants to continue efforts to test and treat hepatitis B virus in the

Asian community. Since its creation last year as part of the hospital’s Korean

outreach, the program has screened more than 1,650 residents, vaccinated 214,

and treated 119. Gilead Sciences Inc.’s Gilead Foundation gave the center

$75,000, and Bristol-Myers Squibb donated $10,000; both entities also

contributed to the effort last year. “These successive grants not only signify

those organizations’ recognition of our achievements, but are also a testament

to the Asian Liver Center’s passion and commitment to our community,” said Dr.

Chul S. Hyan, a gastroenterologist and the center’s medical director. “Some

patients get lost because of the barriers posed by language and culture. At Holy

Name, we have learned that speaking the language and understanding the culture

are essential to increasing compliance with health care advice.” Korean

Americans in North Jersey are about 10 times more likely than the general

population to have HBV, the center’s experts report.

For more information, telephone 201-833-3399.

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