NCC Receives Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Grant For Its Peru Program

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Cancer Coalition (NCC) is pleased to announce a $25,000 grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to support its women's cancer early detection program in Peru.  The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation award is supporting a medical training program for Peruvian physicians and medical personnel, with an emphasis on prevention, early detection and treatment of cervical and breast cancers.    

National Cancer Coalition's President Robert Landry stated, "Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation's gift allows NCC to expand our programmatic reach to additional at-risk rural communities in Peru, where there exists limited access to professional cervical and breast cancer screening.  Helping to train medical professionals that are knowledgeable about all aspects of cancer care is an important part of our mission".   Landry added, "This Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation support complements the innovative BD sponsored SurePath™ liquid-based Pap program that NCC and our partner CerviCusco clinic have begun implementing to test 75,000 women in this region of Peru over the next three years."  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation President John Damonti commented, "The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is pleased to support the NCC's cancer training and early detection programs that are making both immediate and long-term impact to benefit Peruvian women.  For a number of years, the National Cancer Coalition has been a preferred partner of Bristol-Myers Squibb to provide specialty medicine donations to underserved patients with cancer and other serious diseases.  We are pleased that this relationship has now expanded to training and treatment access for women's cancer patients."    

The training component of this program was implemented in Cusco, Peru with over 80 local medical professionals participating.  CerviCusco Founder and President Dr. Daron Ferris stated, "We would like to thank the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation for their generous support of our partnership.  This grant will enable Peruvian physicians and nurses to better treat their cancer patients for many years to come, as well as to help with the immediate transportation requirements for women that need additional testing or procedures at the CerviCusco clinic."

The National Cancer Coalition, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, supports relief, education, training, and research programs throughout the world. The Coalition's international medical relief program provides requested specialty pharmaceuticals, essential medicines, and medical technologies to healthcare facilities that treat underserved patients in over 50 developing countries.  For additional information, please contact NCC at: 919-821-2182 or visit our website at: www.nationalcancercoalition.org  

SOURCE National Cancer Coalition

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