NEWSLETTER (March 2005) Drugs for AIDS and HIV Patients (DAHP) Adding Years to Life….. News from Nigeria
The Vision and Passion DAHP was founded in 2003 through the burden that Dr. Adeyeye had about the pandemic of AIDS in Africa and the devastation on the fabric of the society. In Nigeria, the rise in the epidemic from 1.8% in 1991 to 5.8% in 2002 was disturbing. However, more alarming is the little or lack of attention that was being given the disease, anti-retroviral drugs (ARV) and drug therapy. As a Christian, Dr. Adeyeye knew that sex outside the marriage or promiscuity is the main reason for the spread of the disease but was uncomfortable with the societal and church attitudes toward the people suffering from the disease. She knew about a king from the Old Testament, King Hezekiah of Israel who sinned but repented of his sin and God added 15 more years to his life that was otherwise cut short. 2 Kings: 1-11. Thus, the vision of DAHP and ….Adding Years to Life………was born. Her faith in God became the bedrock of her passion to fight the disease. She saw Africa as a very huge evergreen tree that gradually started losing the leaves and branches which represent the people of Africa dying of AIDS. She also saw in her mind a very huge axe at the bottom of the tree that signify the destruction of African children especially as news came form South and 1 East Africa, that based on superstition, some men believed that you have to have sex with a virgin in order to get rid of the “mysterious illness” i.e., AIDS. As a pharmaceutical scientist and teacher of drug manufacturing, she knew the potential of ARV therapy – a cocktail of different ARVs that work synergistically to allow the patient to live with the disease as chronic instead of it resulting in early death. She also knew the possibilities of manufacturing the drugs. Having visited Nigeria (Baptist Hospital, Ogbomoso, Osun State), she was shattered, realizing that AIDS patients had no access to any AIDS drugs instead, they were being treated with herbs and dying at an alarming rate. Only about 1% had access to drugs and the quality of the drugs was suspect. This restlessness led to her idea of testing the quality and bioequivalence of AIDS drugs that were used in Nigeria or West Africa in general. A research was born in her laboratory at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She applied for and received a Fulbright grant to study the quality and bioequivalence of two ARVs – lamivudine and zidovudine – that were available in West Africa. She sourced the commercial products from pharmacies in Ghana and Nigeria and the preliminary research started in her And
lab in 2004. Dr. Adeyeye then planned her Fulbright program to involve the University of Lagos, Faculty of Pharmacy and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and development in Nigeria (NIPRD). Her investigation would include both the innovator and generic drugs. Simultaneously, she began the process of registering DAHP as a faith-based, nonprofit organization in the USA and nongovernmental body in Nigeria. DAHP was registered in the USA and received its tax-exempt status in December 2004. The registration of the Nigeria DAHP is almost complete. DAHP and South-East Asia Prayer Center (SEAPC) The steps of the righteous are indeed ordered by the Lord (Proverbs 16:9). On an October evening 2003, Dr. Adeyeye went to the Bridgeville Christian bookstore to buy an item. As she was leaving, a man stopped and asked her if she was from Nigeria. That man is Rev. Mark Geppert, founder of SEAPC. He was there with his son, Matthew to promote the children’s Tibetan project and autograph some of his books. That conversation lasted about 2 hours, led to a relationship of DAHP with SEAPC and consequently the use of the center as an office space for DAHP. Without Mark, Matt, Ellie (Mark’s wife) Jessica and Jill (the secretary), DAHP will not be where it is today. Brother’s Brother Foundation (BBF)_ and DAHP The foundation made a seed donation of 144 topical steroidal bottles to DAHP with commitment to fully support our
organization with drugs in the future. The package, plus some multivitamin supplements were delivered to the hospital in August 2004 as seen below.
Dr. Adeyeye, Dr. Adeniran (committee chaiperson of Baptist AIDS Awareness and Prevention Program) and the pharmacist receiving the package Launching of DAHP A benefit dinner event was held on October 16, 2004 to launch DAHP and heighten the awareness of AIDS and its devastation on the family. The master of ceremony at the dinner was Ms. Marilyn Brooks, the Health Editor of WTAE TV channel in Pittsburgh. DAHP and Mylan Pharmaceuticals Having known the Chief Executive Officer of Mylan, Mr. Debone, for many years and the objectives of the company, Dr. Adeyeye introduced DAHP to the CEO. The company then made its first donation of drugs used for opportunistic infections or diseases such as diarrhea, fungal infections and cancer for the project. The donation, sent through BBF’s warehouse, was worth over $200,000. Hon. (Prof.) Adeyeye the husband of our founder transported the package to Nigeria as excess luggage. 2
Departure for the Fulbright Scholar and DAHP’s Mission Professor Adeyeye arrived at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja on Sunday, January 9 on a hazy and balmy night. This was the harmattan season in Nigeria when the northeast trade winds blow across the nation with heavy dust. This year was very severe. In some parts of the country, planes could not take off or land. The following Tuesday, she flew down to Lagos in the South to resume work at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos as Fulbright Scholar. Although settling down was a little difficult, She had adjusted pretty well. Family News Her mom had been ill with Alzheimer’s disease for years and she met her very ill in Lagos. She had the opportunity to join other siblings to take care of her, but she passed away to glory on February 2, 2005. Presentation of Mylan Drugs Dr. Adeyeye traveled to the Baptist Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State on February 3 to officially present the drugs donated by Mylan Pharmaceuticals (in Morgantown, West Virginia) to the hospital. The drugs, worth over $200,000 are meant to treat opportunistic infections in AIDS patients. The General Secretary of the Baptist Convention of Nigeria, Dr. Ishola was present to receive the drugs, along with the Medical Director, Dr. Oladiran and Dr. Gbadero, the Director of Baptist Social Services in Nigeria, and Manager of the Baptist AIDS Awareness and Prevention Program (BAAPP). Some hospital staff and AIDS patients witnessed the presentation Dr. Gbadero (3rd from left), next are Dr. Ishola (the General Secretary, Nigerian Baptist Convention), Dr. Oladiran, Medical Director, Baptist Medical Center, Ogbomoso and some Hospital Staff
Mylan Drugs
Drugs being presented by Prof. Moji Adeyeye to the Hospital Medical Director, Dr. Oladiran
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Some AIDS Patients at the Presentation of Mylan Drugs Workshop at Camp Young, Ede, Osun State Dr. Adeyeye co-facilitated the workshop on Voluntary Confidential Counseling and Testing (VCCT). The audience was made up of Baptist pastors and church leaders. The emphasis was on counseling AIDS patients and the Biblical Approach to Human Sexuality. The 3-day conference (February 21-24) was organized by BAAPP and sponsored by Nigeria’s Action Committee on AIDS (NACA). The take home message for the pastors is empowering youth programs in the churches and emphasizing “saved sex”, i.e., sex saved for after marriage. The pulpit was also challenged to preach and teach more about Holiness. These are the only proven means to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. The workshop was part of DAHP’s objectives in its collaboration with BAAPP. The result of the workshop is more interactions with the churches whose pastors attended the meeting and future scheduled visits with the churches.
Workshop participants and Dr. Adeyeye during one of the lectures (below picture)
DAHP Places AIDS Patients on Free Monthly Supply of AIDS Drugs. Revolving Loan Offered to Patients for Trading
Ten patients that are now on the government-subsidized program started receiving their drugs free. This is made possible by our donors. A loan (minimum of 10,000 naira or $75), will be given to patients to start some trading. These patients, mostly widows of deceased AIDS patients, need to earn a living for their children. Without help, stigmatization will prevent them from a means of livelihood. Our donors’ support will also allow these patients to do the 3-6 months blood testing that monitors their progress in therapy. News about the Patients Some of the patients are staying healthy as a result of drug therapy. The pictures of one of
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them taken before and after starting therapy last year are shown below. She, as well as others, has improved physically (lower picture). She now has higher CD4 count compared to before the therapy.
Launching of DAHP in Nigeria Plans are underway to officially launch DAHP in Nigeria. The goal is to raise more funds to help more patients with their drugs and for sustenance of patients that are already on the anti-retroviral drugs.
Prayer Works Our gratitude goes to our donors, SEAPC, Waterdam Church and friends. Please Join DAHP in Adding Years to Life. The needs include the listed items. • The woman has emerged as a leader of the group, 75% of which is women and usually widowed. She escorts other women to the teaching hospital (70 miles away) for the CD4 monitoring. The group was officially formed and called Positive Action Committee (PAC). Hezekiah passed away This was a 4-month old baby seen on the back of his mother below (picture taken 2004 March). When I asked the mother about him during my last visit, she said “Hezekiah had changed hands”. In our language, it means the hands of death had taken him from that of life. DAHP needs your help to stem the deaths of children. 5 • • • Flow cytometer to measure the patients CD4 Cash donations, anti-retroviral drugs Drugs used for opportunistic infections Multivitamin supplements (adults and children) and dry foods.
Please send donations to: DAHP 363WashingtonAve Oakmont, PA 15139 Phone: 412-363-9063 Fax: 412-363-9065 Website: www.dahp.net DAHP’s accounts are managed by a CPA. Statements are available upon request DAHP is an IRS tax-exempt, faith-based organization