AHF Funding Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to Fight TB and H. pylori
AHF is funding the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for two separate, and timely, projects serving Himalayan communities.
The funds will be used for treating and preventing tuberculosis (TB) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), both prevalent in the Himalaya. The projects are slated to begin this February in Nepal under the guidance of Project Director Dr. Kunchok Dorjee, one of the leaders in the fight against global TB.
H. pylori, a bacterium that colonizes the stomach lining, is a leading cause of gastric disease, including ulcers and deadly cancer. In Nepal, the prevalence of gastric disease infection is notably high; up to 45% of the population is at risk from poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare. All this makes his work critically important.
In addition to screening and treating infections, Dr. Dorjee and his Johns Hopkins team will collect data on the prevalence of H. pylori in the community/rates of reinfection. This information will form the basis for future public health interventions.
Dr. Dorjee expressed his gratitude for the award, and he looks forward to collaborating with AHF to implement this essential work in Nepal. “Thank you for your contribution to the well-being of this community for decades,” he said.
We will continue to provide updates on this new collaborative initiative with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
