San Francisco Hep B Free

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San Francisco Hep B Free is a citywide campaign to turn San Francisco into the first hepatitis B free city in the United States. This unprecedented campaign began in 2007, with the objective to screen, vaccinate, and treat all San Francisco Asian and Pacific Islander (API) residents for hepatitis B by providing convenient, free or low-cost testing opportunities at partnering health facilities and events. [1] [2]

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API’s have the highest risk of hepatitis B of any ethnic group. San Francisco’s API residents comprise 34% of the city’s population and bear a disproportionate burden of liver cancer and undetected hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B is a serious disease responsible for 80% of all liver cancers among APIs. San Francisco has the highest liver cancer rate in the nation. [1] It is estimated that one in ten people in the API community have an undiagnosed infection. [3] APIs are up to 100 times more likely to suffer from chronic hepatitis B infection and four times more likely to die from liver cancer compared with the general population.[ citation needed ]

The San Francisco Hep B Free campaign put San Francisco at the forefront of America in fighting chronic hepatitis. It was the largest, most intensive healthcare campaign for Asian and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. This initiative received national attention and is being looked to as a model by the California legislature. Mayor Gavin Newsom, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and Supervisor Ed Jew lead the effort, partnering with more than 50 healthcare and Asian Pacific Islander (API) organizations. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors and San Francisco Health Commission passed unanimous resolutions supporting San Francisco Hep B Free.[ citation needed ]

Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco Medical Center was asked to present the first Hep B conferences. Gayle Akins, Kaiser Permanente CME department produced the accredited conferences on Hepatitis B for physicians, allied health professionals, community organizations and the public. The San Francisco Hep B Free Steering Committee was made up of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, and AsianWeek Foundation. Assemblywoman Ma served as spokesperson [4] and Honorary Chairperson.The efforts of San Francisco Hep B Free have been the model for similar efforts in other California counties, as well as Chicago, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. [5]

See also

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Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver tissue. Some people or animals with hepatitis have no symptoms, whereas others develop yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), poor appetite, vomiting, tiredness, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Hepatitis is acute if it resolves within six months, and chronic if it lasts longer than six months. Acute hepatitis can resolve on its own, progress to chronic hepatitis, or (rarely) result in acute liver failure. Chronic hepatitis may progress to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), liver failure, and liver cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hepatitis C</span> Human viral infection

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. During the initial infection people often have mild or no symptoms. Occasionally a fever, dark urine, abdominal pain, and yellow tinged skin occurs. The virus persists in the liver in about 75% to 85% of those initially infected. Early on, chronic infection typically has no symptoms. Over many years however, it often leads to liver disease and occasionally cirrhosis. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will develop serious complications such as liver failure, liver cancer, or dilated blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hepatocellular carcinoma</span> Medical condition

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer in adults and is currently the most common cause of death in people with cirrhosis. HCC is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viral hepatitis</span> Liver inflammation from a viral infection

Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation due to a viral infection. It may present in acute form as a recent infection with relatively rapid onset, or in chronic form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liver disease</span> Medical condition

Liver disease, or hepatic disease, is any of many diseases of the liver. If long-lasting it is termed chronic liver disease. Although the diseases differ in detail, liver diseases often have features in common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liver biopsy</span>

Liver biopsy is the biopsy from the liver. It is a medical test that is done to aid diagnosis of liver disease, to assess the severity of known liver disease, and to monitor the progress of treatment.

The Jade Ribbon Campaign (JRC) also known as JoinJade, was launched by the Asian Liver Center (ALC) at Stanford University in May 2001 during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to help spread awareness internationally about hepatitis B (HBV) and liver cancer in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaiser Family Foundation</span> American non-profit organization

KFF, also known as The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, is an American non-profit organization, headquartered in San Francisco, California. It prefers KFF since its legal name can cause confusion as it is no longer a foundation or a family foundation, and is not associated with Kaiser Permanente. KFF focuses on major health care issues facing the nation, as well as U.S. role in global health policy. KFF claims that it is a non-partisan source of facts and analysis, polling and journalism for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public, and its website has been heralded for having the "most up-to-date and accurate information on health policy" and as a "must-read for healthcare devotees."

Hepatitis B is endemic in China. Of the 350 million individuals worldwide infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), one-third reside in China. As of 2006 China has immunized 11.1 million children in its poorest provinces as part of several programs initiated by the Chinese government and as part of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). However, the effects of these programs have yet to reach levels of immunization that would limit the spread of hepatitis B effectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hepatitis B vaccine</span> Vaccine against hepatitis B

Hepatitis B vaccine is a vaccine that prevents hepatitis B. The first dose is recommended within 24 hours of birth with either two or three more doses given after that. This includes those with poor immune function such as from HIV/AIDS and those born premature. It is also recommended that health-care workers be vaccinated. In healthy people routine immunization results in more than 95% of people being protected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hepatitis B</span> Human viral infection

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) that affects the liver; it is a type of viral hepatitis. It can cause both acute and chronic infection.

LIVERight is the first 5K run/walk to raise awareness about hepatitis B and liver cancer. The goal of LIVERight was not only to raise money for outreach efforts, but more importantly to educate and increase awareness of this pressing public health issue. Educational displays, informational booths and of course signs were unique and significant components to the event. The education allowed participants to learn more about hepatitis B prevention and treatment, as well as hear the real stories about the lives lost and won to liver cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Hepatitis Day</span> WHO public health campaign

World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28 every year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis — a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E — and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Hepatitis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic disease and killing close to 1.34 million people every year. Hepatitis can cause inflammation of the liver both acutely and chronically, and can kill a person. In some countries hepatitis B is the most common cause of cirrhosis and may also cause liver cancer.

The Asian Liver Center is a non-profit organization at Stanford University, United States, that researches the high incidence of hepatitis B and liver cancer in Asians and Asian Americans. The Asian Liver Center (ALC) was founded in 1996 to spearhead educational outreach and advocacy efforts in the areas of hepatitis B and liver cancer prevention and treatment, serves as a resource for both the general public and health practitioners, and implements clinical and research programs.

Asian Americans have historically been perceived as a "model minority," experiencing few health problems relative to other minority groups. Research within the past 20 years, however, has shown that Asian Americans are at high risk for hepatitis B, liver cancer, tuberculosis, and lung cancer, among other conditions. Asian American health disparities have only gained focus in the past 10 years, with policy initiatives geared towards promoting healthcare access to Asian Americans rising to prominence even later. Asian Americans are defined as Americans of Asian ancestry and constitute nearly 5% of American's population as of 2003, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet, the Asian American population can hardly be described as homogenous. The term applies to members of over 25 groups that have been classified as a single group because of similar appearances, cultural values, and common ethnic backgrounds. The Asian Americans commonly studied have been limited primarily to individuals of Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mien, or Vietnamese descent.

Robert Palmer Beasley was a physician, public health educator and epidemiologist whose work on hepatitis B involved extensive investigations in Taiwan. That work established that hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a primary cause of liver cancer and that hepatitis B virus is transmitted from mother to infant during childbirth. Beasley and his colleagues also proved that HBV mother-to-infant transmission is preventable by at-birth vaccination. Due to this work, the World Health Assembly designated HBV as the seventh global vaccine in 1992. He later became the author of HBV immunization policies for the World Health Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Ma (API Commissioner)</span>

Steven Ma served as secretary of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, the first International Education Liaison for California Department of Education and many other State appointed position.

Shiv Kumar Sarin is an Indian gastroenterologist, hepatologist, translational scientist, researcher and teacher. He set up the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences. He is a recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and the Padma Bhushan. He served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of Medical Council of India. He was the president of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver and founder of Asian Pacific School of Hepatology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epidemiology of Hepatitis D</span> Instance, distribution, and control of Hepatitis D

The epidemiology of hepatitis D occurs worldwide. Although the figures are disputed, a recent systematic review suggests that up to 60 million individuals could be infected. The major victims are the carriers of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), who become superinfected by the HDV, and intravenous drug users who are the group at highest risk. The infection usually results in liver damage ; this is most often a chronic and severe hepatitis rapidly conducive to cirrhosis.

Julia Lenore Marcus is an American public health researcher and infectious disease epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on improving the implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in the United States. Marcus is also a popular science communicator, and has contributed to The Atlantic.

References

  1. 1 2 McKinley, Jesse. "In Ads, Plea for Asians to Get Tests for Hepatitis". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  2. "Hepatitis B and liver cancer among Asian Americans". medicalxpress.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  3. Paquette, Rose. "Fil-Ams at high risk of hepatitis-B; free testing in SF Bay Area". globalnation.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  4. "Viral Hepatitis Testing Offered For Liver-Destroying Disease". 2014-05-16. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  5. Bailey, Meredith B.; Shiau, Rita; Zola, Janet; Fernyak, Susan E.; Fang, Ted; So, Samuel K. S.; Chang, Ellen T. (2011-08-01). "San Francisco Hep B Free: A Grassroots Community Coalition to Prevent Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer". Journal of Community Health. 36 (4): 538–551. doi:10.1007/s10900-010-9339-1. ISSN   1573-3610. PMC   3130910 . PMID   21125320.