2012 Award Winner Profile

Abraham Babu

Lantos Awards Support International PH Activists

In the U.S., PH patients, families and professionals have many resources for support, information, education and awareness-raising. Yet PH strikes patients all around the globe. In some countries, smaller patient populations and fewer resources for them mean patients may be struggling to understand and cope with their illness alone.

Over the past three years, PHA’s Tom Lantos Innovation in Community Service Awards have helped fill this gap. The program, funded by Gilead Sciences, has granted small amounts of money to PH activists both inside and outside the U.S. to better organize, educate and support PH patients.

While most grants continue to be awarded to applicants in the U.S., grants to international applicants in 2012 were awarded in countries where leaders in PH will plan meetings for PH patients and professionals, planting the seeds of a more supportive and informed community.

Promoting Exercise in India

Rehabilitation specialist Abraham Babu of India is using his grant to develop a manual about the importance of physical activity and exercise for PH patients. The manual will offer illustrations and instructions on specific exercises including a warm up, an aerobic training program and a cool down. Sections of the manual will also cover symptoms, medical tests, treatments, nutrition, tasks to do at home such as daily weight checks, and the importance of relaxation and connections with family and friends. The manual will be translated into various regional languages and will be a resource at home for patients who must travel long distances to PH care centers. It will be distributed to patients through PH physicians and rehabilitation specialists in India.