"Laughter Is the Best Medicine" Event Honors Comedy Central's Kent Alterman and Wife Michele Brennan and TV Actress Julie Bowen

BALTIMORE, May 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jhpiego, a global health non-profit and affiliate of Johns Hopkin University, will present Comedy Central's new president, Kent Alterman, and wife Michele Brennan, with the Elyse Bila Ouedraogo Award for their outstanding support of Jhpiego's mission to prevent the needless deaths of women and their families.

Actress Julie Bowen, two-time Emmy Award winner, "Modern Family" star and Baltimore native, will be honored with Jhpiego's Visionary Award at the May 23 "Laughter Is the Best Medicine" event at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. Natasha Leggero will serve as mistress of ceremonies at the star-studded evening featuring an array of Hollywood and TV personalities gathered to celebrate Jhpiego's lifesaving work worldwide. Comedian Tom Papa will perform.

Kent Alterman and Michele Brennan, who received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California, recently traveled to Kenya to observe Jhpiego's programs in maternal and child health, family planning, and HIV prevention and treatment services.

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, Jhpiego partners with governments and communities to bring transformative health care to women and families. Jhpiego believes that where a woman lives shouldn't determine if she lives. Since its beginning 43 years ago, Jhpiego has expanded its reproductive health work to include health systems strengthening, infection prevention and control, cervical cancer prevention and treatment, as well as malaria prevention and treatment. Today, Jhpiego has a presence in 50 countries, more than 2,000 employees and a legacy of developing innovative, low-cost solutions to the world's global health challenges.

The Elyse Bila Ouedraogo Award is named for a nurse in Burkina Faso. Her battle with cervical cancer represents the plight of thousands of women in developing countries who lack access to quality health care services and die from this preventable and treatable disease. Jhpiego pioneered a low-cost cervical cancer prevention approach that uses vinegar to screen women, and offers same-day treatment for those who test positive for precancerous lesions.

The Visionary Award is given to a remarkable individual whose actions exemplify the core values of our organization—breaking down barriers to high-quality health care for the world's most vulnerable populations.

For more information about Jhpiego visit www.jhpiego.org

SOURCE Jhpiego