California Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Strategic Plan, 2010-2014

“Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C,” a report from The Institute of Medicine (IOM), was released. The IOM is an independent, nonprofit organization that works outside of government to provide unbiased and authoritative advice to decision makers and the public.

We know that viral hepatitis (both chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C) causes thousands of cases of liver cancer, liver disease, and death each year. We know that the Asian, Pacific Islander, black, and intravenous drug use communities bare the greatest burden with this disease. We know that these infections account for nearly half of the liver transplantations that are performed annually. We know viral hepatitis affects three to five times as many Americans as HIV/AIDS.
 
And now the new report from the Institute of Medicine recommends ways to boost awareness among health care and social service providers as well as the general public with a campaign similar to the effort that succeeded in increasing recognition, prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS.  The report also outlines steps to improve screening, vaccination, treatment, and control of viral hepatitis.The Institute of Medicine (January 2010).

We did it! Though collective effort we are improving federal hepatitis and HIV prevention policy! CalHEP and our collaborating partners have sent many action alerts asking you to urge Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and your Congressperson to lift the long-standing ban on the use of federal funds to support syringe exchange programs. On your behalf, CalHEP wrote the California Congressional Delegation asking to lift the ban. Our contribution to this local and national effort, has contributed to great success in Congress and now within the massive appropriations bill passed by the House of Representatives today, and due for a vote in the Senate this weekend is language lifting the ban on the use of federal funds to support syringe exchange programs. Other groups supporting a repeal of the ban include the Harm Reduction Coalition, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League. Read the press release.

Writing in the December 2009, issue of Hepatology, researchers at the University of Michigan report that despite dramatic improvements in antiviral therapy for hepatitis C, fewer then one-fifth of the nearly 4 million Americans infected with chronic hepatitis C have received the treatment. The authors conclude that lack of diagnosis is a barrier to treatment, and they urge that efforts be made to improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Read the report.

With the theme “This is hepatitis…” for World Hepatitis Day on May 19 in both 2010 and 2011, the World Hepatitis Alliance is aiming to tell the human story of viral hepatitis and continue the battle of raising awareness of hepatitis B and C around the world. The WHA hopes that the new campaign will allow patient groups to develop their own national and local programs to create unity, engage policymakers, and reinforce the scale of the problem. Read all about it in the WHA’s November 2009 newsletter.