Resolution: SF Health Commission "Endorsing the Goal of Universal Hepatitis B Screening and Vaccination for API residents"

HEALTH COMMISSION

City and County of San Francisco

Resolution No. 16-06

Endorsing the goal of universal Hepatitis B screening and vaccination for

Asian and Pacific Islander residents of San Francisco

WHEREAS, residents of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage comprise 34 percent of the population of the City and County of San Francisco; and

WHEREAS, Asian and Pacific Islanders are facing a health care crisis from Hepatitis B infections and liver cancer as follows:

a.) One out of 10 APIs in San Francisco has Chronic Hepatitis B

b.) 80% of liver cancer is caused by Hepatitis B

c.) 1 in 4 APIs living with Chronic Hepatitis B will die from liver disease or liver cancer

d.) Due to lack of symptoms, awareness and testing, most APIs are unaware of their infections

e.) APIs are 100 times more likely to have Chronic Hepatitis B than Whites (1 out of 10 for Asians, 1 out of 1000 for Whites)

f.) APIs have the highest rates of liver cancer for any racial/ethnic group

g.) The greatest health disparity between Asian Americans and Caucasian Americans is liver cancer

h.) Up to 23,000 women in the United States who give birth each year have chronic Hepatitis B infection, and 70% of them are API.

i.) Liver cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Asian men living in the US

j.) Over half of chronically infected Hepatitis B Americans are API; and

WHEREAS, the ramifications of this health care crisis could have dire consequences for the entire City and County of San Francisco as follows:

a.) 6,000 APIs in San Francisco are projected to die from liver cancer and cancer brought on by Hepatitis B

b.) The cost of liver transplants is more than $200,000 per patient

c.) Liver cancer usually develops between ages 35 and 65 when people are maximally productive, with family responsibilities

d.) It could cost San Francisco $700 million in medical and work loss costs for Hepatitis B related conditions; and

WHEREAS, the health care crisis posed by Hepatitis B is largely preventable as follows:

a.) Hepatitis B is a vaccine preventable disease

b.) 70% to 80% of all liver cancers in Asians can be prevented by a Hepatitis B vaccination program

c.) Hepatitis B related Liver Cancer is a vaccine preventable cancer

d.) The Hepatitis B vaccine was declared the first anti-cancer vaccine

e.) Hepatitis B vaccine is safe and has been given to over 500 million people in the world; now therefore

WHEREAS, The California Liver Cancer Prevention Plan calls for all Asians in the state to be tested and vaccinated by the year 2010; and

WHEREAS, the San Francisco Department of Public Health has been working actively to educate, screen and vaccinate San Franciscans to protect residents and the city from Hepatitis B and its related illnesses; and

WHEREAS, the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University and the AsianWeek Foundation are working with a network of San Francisco’s community and healthcare organizations to launch a citywide campaign entitled “SAN FRANCISCO: FREE OF HEPATITIS B – Making San Francisco The First City in America to screen/vaccinate all Asian/Pacific Islanders for Hepatitis B (HBV)”; and

WHEREAS early pioneering efforts to safeguard the Asian American community from Hepatitis B by participating in national studies demonstrating the effectiveness of use of Hepatitis B vaccines in newborns at San Francisco General Hospital and the San Francisco Chinese Hospital helped lead to the national recommendations for universal administration of Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns; and

WHEREAS the Chinese and Asian community for over a half dozen years has been educating providers and residents on the importance of screening for Hepatitis B, including collaborative efforts of the NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training (AANCART) San Francisco Chinese Council of the Chinese Community Health Care Association, the Jade Ribbon campaign of the Asian Liver Center of Stanford University, and the Chinatown Public Health Center; and

WHEREAS, it is the goal of the City and County of San Francisco to be the first city in America to screen and vaccinate all Asian and Pacific Islander residents for Hepatitis B, setting a model that can be implemented throughout the state of California and the entire nation; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that the San Francisco Health Commission commends all these efforts to increase awareness and reduce the consequences of chronic Hepatitis B in the Asian American Pacific Islander community; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Health Commission supports this goal and the SAN FRANCISCO: FREE OF HEPATITIS B campaign.

I hereby certify that the San Francisco Health Commission at its meeting of December 5, 2006 adopted the foregoing resolution.

Rebekah R. Varela

Acting Executive Secretary to the Health Commission

AsianWeek: "Calling for S.F. to Test All APAs for Hep B"

SF Chronicle: "Ma urges hepatitis B awareness"

Bonnie Eslinger, The Examiner
May 6, 2006 9:00 AM (2 days ago)
SAN FRANCISCO -

Fiona Ma did not learn she had chronic hepatitis B until she tried to give blood at the age of 22. Now 40, the member of the Board of Supervisors is hoping her story will encourage other Asian Americans, who are at greater risk, to get tested for the deadly disease.

While only 3 percent of the nation's population has been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, Asian American and Pacific Islander Americans make up more than half of these cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In San Francisco, nearly 30 percent of the population is of Asian descent, which means thousands of residents are likely to be chronic carriers.

"This is an issue near and dear to my heart, because I myself am a hep B carrier," said Ma, speaking at a press conference called Friday to promote awareness of the disease among San Francisco's Asian Pacific community.

Ma noted that her brother, who is only two years younger than she, is also a hepatitis B carrier, but her sister, who is 16 years younger, is not. That's likely because a hepatitis B vaccine became available in 1982, leading to routine vaccination of newborns.

Hepatitis B, caused by a virus that attacks the liver, occurs when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person that is not infected. A mother can transmit it to her baby during birth. It can also be spread through having sex with an infected person without using a condom and by sharing needles, among other means of transmission.

The children of immigrants from areas with high rates of infection, such as China, are at high risk for contracting the disease. Without vaccination, 90 percent of infants infected at birth develop a long lasting, chronic infection.

Often called the "silent disease" because about 30 percent of those infected have no signs or symptoms, in the United States, about 1.25 million people have chronic hepatitis B. Of those infected, 5,000 die from hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related liver complications each year.

Dr. Mitch Katz, San Francisco's director of public health, called hepatitis B a "deadly but preventable disease" and encouraged The City's Asian Pacific community to get tested and vaccinated, if needed.

Currently, all newborns in San Francisco are automatically vaccinated against hepatitis B. The City also spends approximately $200,000 a year to provide about 8,000 adult hepatitis vaccines to local public health centers and private nonprofit organizations at no charge.

For information on free or low-cost hepatitis testing and vaccination sites in San Francisco, call 415-554-2844. Free screenings will also be offered at the Asian American Heritage Celebration in San Francisco's Sunset District, on May 20.

beslinger@examiner.com

Niwa Public Relations: "San Francisco's Asian Health Organizations Unite To Promote Awareness of Hepatitis B for Bay Area's Asian Pacific Islander American Community During National Hepatitis B Awareness Month"

For more information, contact:
Grace Niwa, Niwa Public Relations
(508) 238-6547
grace@niwapr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Photos available upon request

SAN FRANCISCO’S ASIAN HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS UNITE
TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF HEPATITIS B FOR
BAY AREA’S ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN COMMUNITY
DURING NATIONAL HEPATITIS B AWARENESS MONTH

Free Hepatitis B Screenings will be provided by the Asian Liver Center
at Stanford University at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration on
Saturday, May 20th, 2006
2151 Irving Street, Suite 205 from 11 am to 4pm
Sunset District of San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA (May 5, 2006) –San Francisco’s Asian Health organizations came together to promote awareness of the prevalence of hepatitis B and the need for testing in San Francisco’s Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) community during National Hepatitis B Awareness Month and Asian Pacific Heritage Month in May. Assemblymember Mark Leno; Fiona Ma, San Francisco Board of Supervisors; Dr. Mitch Katz, Director of Health, City and County of San Francisco; Dr. Ho Luong Tran, President and CEO, Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum; Dr. Samuel So, Director, Asian Liver Center at Stanford University and James Fang, Co-Chair, Asian Heritage Street Celebration supported the effort at a press conference at City Hall today. Fiona Ma presented a Proclamation to Dr. Samuel So on behalf of Mayor Gavin Newsom to declare the week of May 14-20 as “Hepatitis B Awareness Week in San Francisco.”

The Asian Liver Center at Stanford University announced they would provide free hepatitis B screenings for San Francisco’s APIA community during the Asian Heritage Street Celebration on Saturday, May 20th at 2151 Irving Street, Suite 205 from 11 am to 4pm located in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Partners in this united effort include San Francisco’s Department of Public Health, the Chinese Hospital, the API Wellness Center, the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations and the APIA Health Forum.

Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world caused by the hepatitis B virus that attacks the liver and can cause liver cancer. It is more common among APIA’s than other racial or ethnic groups in the U.S. According to the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, an estimated 1 in 10 foreign born APIAs is chronically infected with hepatitis B, compared to 1 in 1000 Caucasian Americans. Many are not aware they have been infected, since there are usually no symptoms. Without appropriate monitoring or treatment, 1 in 4 of these chronically infected individuals will die from liver cancer or liver failure. Liver cancer, largely caused by hepatitis B, is the second leading cause of cancer death for APIA men living in the U.S.

“San Francisco is one of the major U.S. cities where chronic hepatitis B is a serious health problem due to our large Asian Pacific Islander American population,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “The free hepatitis B screenings that the Asian Liver Center will be conducting at this year’s Asian Heritage Street Celebration are a great way to educate and raise awareness about this major health threat to our community.”

“There are an estimated 25,000 APIAs living in the city of San Francisco with chronic hepatitis B, and an additional 100,000 who are unprotected,” said Dr. Samuel So, Director, Asian Liver Center at Stanford University. “There’s a real need for increased hepatitis B testing and vaccination in the APIA community. More than half of the deaths from hepatitis B are from our community, yet the seriousness of this disease is underappreciated, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. We are grateful for the support of our community partners for promoting awareness and prevention of this silent epidemic.”

“We are very pleased to see San Francisco’s Asian Health organizations unite for this important cause,” said James Fang, Co-Chair, Asian Heritage Street Celebration. “We are encouraging all Asian Americans and their family members to get screened at this year’s festival.”

About The Asian Liver Center at Stanford University
The Asian Liver Center at Stanford University is the only non-profit organization in the United States that addresses the high incidence of hepatitis B and liver cancer in Asians andAsian Americans. Founded in 1996, the ALC has grown to become a national and international leader in fighting this global epidemic through outreach, education, and research. For more information, visit http://liver.stanford.edu.

About the Asian Heritage Street Celebration
The Asian Heritage Street Celebration is organized by the AsianWeek Foundation, in cooperation with the Mayor’s APA Heritage Committee and over 51 organizations in the Asian American community. The AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit 501(c) 3 committed to developing the Voices of Asian America. All proceeds from the Celebration will be donated to local and national charities. For more information, visit www.asianfairsf.com.

Niwa Public Relations: "Hepatitis B Awareness Proclamation from the office of Mayor Gavin Newsom"

April 12, 2006

To:                               Darlene C. Chiu
Chief Deputy Communications Director
Mayor's Office of Communications

From:                           Grace E. Niwa

                                    PR Consultant/GlaxoSmithKline

                                    Niwa Public Relations

Re:                              Hepatitis B Awareness Proclamation

from the office of Mayor Gavin Newsom

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Hepatitis B is a serious infectious disease in the city of San Francisco in that approximately 25,000 people are chronically infected making it three times more prevalent than HIV/AIDS; and

WHEREAS, peoples of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) descent are most at risk, with one in every ten Asians being chronically infected with Hepatitis B; and

WHEREAS, many of these 25,000 chronically infected carriers may not know they have been infected because they feel and appear healthy, but they need to undergo blood tests that specifically check for Hepatitis B; and

WHEREAS, without appropriate monitoring or treatment, one in four chronically infected persons will die from liver cancer or liver failure; and

WHEREAS, Hepatitis B is completely preventable with a vaccine that is known as the “first anti-cancer vaccine”; and

WHEREAS, there are an estimated 100,000 APIs in San Francisco who are unprotected and would benefit from vaccination against Hepatitis B; and

WHEREAS, symptoms of Hepatitis B are difficult to detect, thus making this disease hard to diagnose, even with routine liver function blood tests; and

WHEREAS, Hepatitis B is found to cause 80% of all liver cancer in the API community, and if not detected early, will result in death; and

WHEREAS, in the city of San Francisco, the Department of Public Health emphasizes Hepatitis B prevention by requiring testing during pregnancy and by requiring children to be immunized against the disease; and

WHEREAS, with the support of GlaxoSmithKline, the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, San Francisco’s Department of Public Health, the Chinese Hospital, the API Wellness Center, the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, and the API American Health Forum unite together to promote awareness of the prevalence of Hepatitis B and the need for testing and vaccination in San Francisco’s API community during National Hepatitis B Awareness Month and Asian Pacific Heritage Month in May; and

WHEREAS, activities during this awareness campaign will include free hepatitis B screenings at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration on May 20^th in the Sunset District of San Francisco and a press conference to alert the media and the API community in San Francisco.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Mayor of San Francisco do hereby proclaim May 2006 as

HEPATITIS B AWARENESS MONTH in San Francisco and encourage and support the API community in its fight to raise awareness of this serious yet preventable infectious disease in the Bay Area.