news and media: news
September 2007
American Leprosy Missions Receives $750,000 Grant
(Greenville, SC.—September 10, 2007). Greenville-based American Leprosy Missions (ALM) received a $750,000 grant for the treatment of the Buruli ulcer disease from Irish Aid.
The three-year grant of $250,000 annually is the result of ALM's partnerships with The Leprosy Mission Ireland and MAP International, Brunswick, GA.
"ALM is already curing leprosy and Buruli ulcer in Africa, but we need to do more," said ALM president Christopher J. Doyle. "This grant is going to strengthen our efforts to detect and treat cases of Buruli ulcer, especially in Ivory Coast. We need to reach them and treat the people early, before the ulcers become too large to treat."
In addition to treatment, the grant will provide funds for training and case detection as well as building a stronger healthcare infrastructure. ALM has been working in Ivory Coast since 2001 and also treats Buruli ulcer disease in Ghana and DR Congo.
Buruli ulcer is a bacterial disease that is closely related to leprosy and is found mostly in West Africa, though cases have also been found as far away as Australia. It starts as a small nodule, but left untreated will develop into huge ulcers that can eventually become fatal. The only treatments available are nodule or lesion excision. Some antibiotics have shown promise in treating the disease. Seventy percent of all Buruli ulcer patients are children under the age of 15.
American Leprosy Missions worldwide headquarters is located in Greenville, SC. ALM is the oldest and largest non-profit organization in the United States providing cure and care to people affected by leprosy and Buruli ulcer. For more information about ALM’s global ministry please visit deliverthecure.org.
