Asian Liver Center at Holy Name gets $85,000 in grants to treat Hepatitis B

[Guest guest]

http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/124251833__85K_to_help_treat_Asians_with_\

hepatitis_B.html

Asian Liver Center at Holy Name gets $85,000 in grants to treat Hepatitis B.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

BY BARBARA WILLIAMS

STAFF WRITER

The Record

The Asian Liver Center at Holy Name Medical Center recently received $85,000 in

grants to continue testing and treating members of the Asian community for

hepatitis B.

The center, created last year as part of the Korean program in the Teaneck

hospital, has provided screening for more than 1,650 residents, vaccinated 214

and treated 119.

For the second year, Gilead Foundation, a non-profit funded by Gilead Sciences

Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb provided grants, $75,000 and $10,000,

respectively. Gilead's funding was 50 percent higher than last year's donation,

said Dr. Chul S. Hyun, gastroenterologist and medical director of the center.

" 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, " Hyun said in a statement. " 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. "

For unknown reasons, Korean-Americans living in North Jersey are 10 times more

likely to have the hepatitis B virus than the general population, according to

the center's experts.

Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can spread to others through blood, semen

and other bodily fluids, including transmission from mother to baby during

childbirth.

It ranges in severity from a mild illness to a lifelong serious disease. Nearly

25 percent of those infected may develop potentially fatal complications such as

cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.

About 1.25 million people nationwide and 65,000 in New Jersey have chronic

hepatitis B, according to Liver Care of New Jersey.

For information about the Asian Center call 201-833-3399.

E-mail: williamsb@...