Vancouver- The Liver Diseases Program at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) is getting a $300,000 boost from local philanthropist Mr. Yau Yu. Mr. Yu is making his donation through the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and helping advance the world-class health care practiced at the hospital.

“Mr. Yu's donation to the Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease Care Development Fund will enhance our ability to deliver state-of-the art patient care, add to our capacity to conduct research, and improve our ability to educate British Columbians and the people who look after them.,” said Dr. Eric Yoshida, Head of the B.C. Hepatitis Program and Head of the Division of Gastroenterology at VGH and UBC. People in B.C. with viral hepatitis and liver disease will benefit greatly from Mr. Yu's kind gift both now and in the future.”

“In 2002, I was admitted to Vancouver General Hospital with a liver tumor,” said Yu. “The care I received from Dr. Yoshida and his team saved my life. This gift to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation in support of the Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease Care Development Fund expresses my gratitude for the patient care the professionals at VGH provide.”

There are over 100 different forms of liver disease, with chronic hepatitis B and C being the most common in B.C. It’s estimated that 40,000 to 60,000 British Columbians have chronic hepatitis B, and approximately 60,000 to 100,000 suffer from chronic hepatitis C.

“This generous gift will help the world’s best and brightest here at VGH conduct pioneering research into liver diseases and develop highly specialized treatments for world-class patient care,” says Ron Dumouchelle, President & CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “We would like to thank Mr. Yu for his vision and generosity.”

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is a registered charity that raises funding for the latest, most sophisticated medical equipment, world-class research and improvements to patient care for Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. For more than 25 years, the Foundation and its donors have been a bridge between the essential health care governments provide and the most advanced health care possible. 

 

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For more information:

 Jon Hicke
Director, Marketing & Communications
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
Tel: 604.875.5196
[email protected]