Based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, GHESKIO (Groupe Haïtien d’Étude du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infectieuses Opportunistes) has performed nearly 30 years of clinical service, research, and training to treat and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. GHESKIO has provided life-saving antiretroviral pharmaceuticals to more than 9,000 patients, and treats more than 500,000 patients annually. In 2000, the Haitian Government designated GHESKIO a “Public Utility,” a status reserved for institutions that are essential to the welfare of the Haitian people.
GHESKIO’s programs serve 26 locations in all 10 provinces of Haiti, through networking with 116 partner institutions from public and private sectors. GHESKIO’s services include comprehensive care for HIV infected individuals, victims of sexual violence, nutritional support, emergency home visits, and peer counseling and care for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. GHESKIO is led by Dr. Jean Willaim Pape, a Haitian native.
“GHESKIO won this award because of the amazing impact that Dr. Bill Pape and his colleagues have had in saving lives and strengthening the health system in Haiti,” said Jeffrey L. Sturchio, President and CEO of Global Health Council. “They have built GHESKIO into a rare institution – one based in a developing country that has become a leader in the global research community. That dual character – world-class research capabilities tied to deep roots in the local community – is what sets GHESKIO apart and makes them the natural recipient of this recognition.’’
U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius joined Sturchio in recognizing GHESKIO’s contributions. “No organization deserves this recognition more than GHESKIO. It has been a pioneer in developing comprehensive HIV/AIDS research, training and services in Haiti,” Sebelius said. “And in the immediate aftermath of the January earthquake, GHESKIO responded by opening its doors, mobilizing its staff, and working side-by-side with U.S. medical and surgical teams to provide relief to the people of Port-au-Prince.”
Dr. Warren Johnson Jr. is director of the Center for Global Health at Weill Cornell, a co-founder of GHESKIO and Pape’s advisor and mentor since medical school at Cornell . “It started with a rehydration unit for infants, progressed to AIDS/TB, and continues with the earthquake and its devastation. The challenges never diminish, but continue to be met by the indomitable spirit of GHESKIO and its partners. The award is a hard earned honor.”