The multi-year grants that worth about $3.5m will be used for the projects that focus on hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in high-risk patient populations.
The grants are being provided through the foundation’s Delivering Hope initiative that supported about 40 projects in China and India since 2002.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation president John Damonti said: "Delivering Hope continues to increase its focus on HBV and HCV in China and India, the two countries that have the highest incidence of viral hepatitis worldwide."
The grants received in China include Peking University Education Foundation to develop virtual community for chronic hepatitis patients to provide a support system.
Hepatitis B Foundation, along with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, will develop a programme to empower rural patients to become actively involved in their disease management.
Wu Jieping Medical Foundation will conduct a study of the present status of HCV treatment and the factors that influence it and will investigate HCV management and education status among specific at-risk populations.
Inno Community Development Organisation will encourage self-screening and raise awareness among migrant workers, and will establish ten community-based Hepatitis C Intervention Centers for the migrant population in Guangdong Province.
In India, the grants secured include All India Institute of Diabetes and Research for a pilot programme in Mehsana and Sabarkantha, two rural districts in the state of Gujrat that have experienced HBV outbreaks.
MAMTA will provide training in HBV and HCV risk assessment, disease prevention and risk management for health care providers, including doctors, nurses, lab technicians and others who come into direct contact with hepatitis patients.
United Way of Mumbai will carry out medical interventions and extensive community education in around 18 slum areas in Mumbai, India, while SAMARTH will conduct training activities to strengthen partners’ ability to self-monitor and evaluate their programme’s progress.