Gilead Sciences announced a global distribution of $4 million through its ALL4LIVER Grant to support community-backed innovative projects associated with hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and hepatitis D (HDV). An official announcement was made at a Gilead-hosted symposium titled ‘Partnering for Global Health Equity: Case Studies from Around the World, held during the World Hepatitis Summit in Lisbon.
Out of 71 organizations awarded the 2023 Grant, two non-profit organisations based in India have been honoured: Chennai Liver Foundation and FIND. The two recipients are selected by an independent external review panel of global experts, including the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA). This collaboration extends WHA’s longstanding partnership with Gilead to further Grant’s ambition of supporting community-led efforts and catalysing viral hepatitis elimination efforts.
FIND, a not-for-profit organisation, will utilise the funding to support micro-elimination efforts for hepatitis C by introducing innovative testing and linkage approaches for people who inject drugs (PWIDs). The initiative will leverage and expand existing government testing and treatment programmes to better reach high-risk groups such as PWIDs in collaboration with the National and State Viral Hepatitis Control Program.
The initiative seeks to enhance capacities at the community level by establishing a peer navigator system to better guide PWIDs to receive timely screening, access to and adherence to care. The other grantee, Chennai Liver Foundation, plans to scale an educational program amongst healthcare professionals, to achieve 90 per cent proficiency in HBV prevention and treatment protocols in healthcare settings. The Foundation will also track, publish and present the outcomes of training methodologies deployed in raising awareness, improving the standard of care and benefiting people living with hepatitis to local and international government agencies and organisations.
“FIND is honoured to receive the ALL4LIVER Grant. Reaching hepatitis elimination in India depends on making simpler diagnostics available to everyone who needs them, particularly in underserved and vulnerable communities. Through this tried-and-tested micro-elimination approach, we know we can improve access to diagnosis and get people on to treatment faster so that lives can be saved,” said Dr Kanudeep Kaur, Project Lead, FIND India.
“With the ALL4LIVER Grant, we’re proud to join forces with our community partners more closely, nurturing innovative solutions specifically tailored to local challenges. Together, we envision a future where the burden of hepatitis is a thing of the past, and healthcare is truly accessible to all,” said Vaibhavi Choksi, GM, Gilead Global Patient Solutions, India and South Asia.
