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Friday, November 11, 2011

ABC 7 Alan Wang and Assemblywoman Fiona Ma YouTube Video about Hepatitis

Thanks to our 4th Annual Ending All Hepatitis Gala emcees, ABC7 news reporter and anchor Alan Wang, and Assemblywoman Fiona Ma for being vocal advocates and huge supporters of the SF Hep B Free Campaign from the beginning.

Here is a YouTube video link from 2008, one of many that Fiona Ma and Alan Wang have made to raise awareness of this greatest health disparity between Asian Americans with the rest of the US population. All of us at the SF Hep B Free Campaign give our utmost gratitude to the wonderful support and publicity these two notable figures have given and continue to give in promoting our cause to eradicate Hepatitis B in the Asian community!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYpfYG7tmqo&feature=related

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

List of Media Coverage of Dr. Koh's Press Event

The press conference on Nov. 4 was covered by several news media outlets. See the list below for an updated index of all media coverage:

Media Coverage Index

1. SF Officials Take On Hepatitis B
By Patricia Decker – Bay City News, November 4, 2011

2. SF Mayor Ed Lee Joins U.S. Assistant Secretary For Health Today
By Zennie Abraham – SFGate.com, November 4, 2011

3. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Joins US Health and Human Services in Supporting Efforts to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis
San Francisco Sentinel, November 4, 2011

4. Mayoral candidates talk hep B and C
By Liz Highleyman – Bay Area Reporter, November 3, 2011

Broadcast Coverage Index

1. KCBS News
By Margie Shafer – KCBS, November 4, 2011, 12:30 pm

2. ABC7 News at 4 PM
KGO, November 4, 2011, 4:12 pm

Check out our Gala page to download the radio clips!


Print & Online Coverage Index

3. SF Officials Take On Hepatitis B
By Patricia Decker – Bay City News Wire, November 4, 2011

*Please note this story was posted on the Bay Citizen, KGO, and SF Appeal.

4. SF Mayor Ed Lee Joins U.S. Assistant Secretary For Health Today
By Zennie Abraham – SFGate.com, November 4, 2011

5. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Joins US Health and Human Services in Supporting Efforts to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis
San Francisco Sentinel, November 4, 2011

6. Mayoral candidates talk hep B and C
By Liz Highleyman – Bay Area Reporter, November 3, 2011



Full Print & Online Coverage

SF Officials Take On Hepatitis B
By Patricia Decker – Bay City News, November 4, 2011

*Please note this story was posted on the Bay Citizen, KGO, and SF Appeal.




Full Media Coverage

SF Officials Take On Hepatitis B
By Patricia Decker – Bay City News, November 4, 2011

State and federal health officials joined San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee this morning to discuss a national plan to eradicate a silent killer--viral hepatitis, which causes hepatitis B.

Between 3.5 and 5.3 million Americans are affected by the virus, which is the leading cause of liver cancer, according to health officials. Thousands of people are affected in San Francisco, which has the highest rate of liver cancer in the country.

"We are proud that San Francisco has played such a leading role in the effort to eradicate viral hepatitis," Lee said. "We are wrestling with this in a very good way."

That effort involves creating public and healthcare-provider awareness about the important of testing and vaccinating at-risk populations for the virus, according to the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign, a citywide effort to make San Francisco the first hepatitis B-free city.

Promoting routine screenings and vaccinations as well as improving access to care for chronically infected individuals are the campaign's other goals.

"We will continue to strengthen the partnerships between public health officials, medical professionals and treatment advocates to educate and encourage widespread testing, prevention and treatment among our most vulnerable communities," Lee said.

Without treatment or monitoring, one in four people who are chronically infected with hepatitis B die from liver cancer or liver failure, according to the campaign, which targets Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, a group that is disproportionately affected by the disease.

One in 10 Asians are chronically infected with hepatitis B and, compared with the general population, are four times more likely to die from liver cancer.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, the honorary chairwoman of the campaign, is among the chronically infected and spoke this morning about the push to make San Francisco the first city to eradicate the virus.

San Francisco has led the nation in the effort to raise awareness about the virus, Lee said, noting that the campaign seeks "to create not only the best local model ... but to really start a national movement."

Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh launched a national action plan to address the epidemic that was based on San Francisco's efforts.

"We have too much death that could be and should be prevented," Koh said, adding that the way San Francisco has mobilized to raise awareness "has been a source of great inspiration for the rest of the country."

The hepatitis B virus can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer.

Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, treatment can significantly reduce the risk of liver damage.

"This is a major health crisis. This is an epidemic." HHS Region IX Director Herb Schultz said.

Koh is the keynote speaker for the fourth annual "B a Hero" benefit gala and award dinner, which is scheduled to take place today at San Francisco's InterContinental Hotel from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
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SF Mayor Ed Lee Joins U.S. Assistant Secretary For Health Today
By Zennie Abraham – SFGate.com, November 4, 2011

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee will join the U.S. Department of Health Services Assistant Secretary For Health and Human Services Dr. Howard Koh today for a press conference to talk about a comprehensive national plan to address the viral hepatitis epidemic this space has blogged about before.

Mayor Lee and Dr. Koh will also explain San Francisco’s leading role in the movement to treat and prevent viral hepatitis. Dr. Koh will also speak on the Affordable Care Act’s impact on the efforts to stop viral hepatitis.

Two local San Francisco Bay Area residents will speak on their experience living with the disease, and a blood draw will take place to encourage wide spread testing.

Viral Hepatitis Causes Liver Cancer

Did you know that viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer in America, effecting up to 5.3 million Americans. And one in 10 who are Asian are chronically infected by Hepatitis B and four times as likely to die from liver cancer, when compared with the general population.

San Francisco has the highest rates of liver cancer in the United States.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma A Spokesperson

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who is living with Hepatitis B, was tapped to be the chair of the effort called ‘SF Hep B Free.’ SF Hep B Free has implemented widespread testing and public awareness of the problem.

Other Notes

The event, slated for 10 AM, will also host Region IX Director Of Health and Human Services, Herb Schultz. Mr. Schultz will also talk about the regional and national implementation of the plan.

Regular readers will recall that this blogger talked with Steve Goodwin about his battle with Hepatitis C.
-------------------

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Joins US Health and Human Services in Supporting Efforts to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis
San Francisco Sentinel, November 4, 2011

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today joined the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh to support the national plan from the Obama Administration to fight the viral hepatitis epidemic.

Viral hepatitis, which affects between 3.5 and 5.3 million Americans, is the leading cause of liver cancer. One in 10 Asians are chronically infected with hepatitis B and are four times more likely to die from liver cancer compared with the general population. Accordingly, San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the country.

“We are proud that San Francisco has played such a leading role in the effort to eradicate viral hepatitis,” said Mayor Lee. “We will continue to strengthen the partnerships between public health officials, medical professionals and treatment advocates to educate and encourage widespread testing, prevention and treatment among our most vulnerable communities.”

Dr. Koh and HHS launched a national action plan earlier this year to address the viral hepatitis epidemic. The plan outlines several systematic approaches to combating viral hepatitis, including increasing awareness among providers, patients and at-risk communities, as well as strengthening surveillance and vaccination efforts. The national plan is based upon San Francisco’s efforts to fight the disease.

Many of these initiatives are already in place through work by local groups including “SF Hep B Free,” an organization that has implemented widespread testing and public awareness among vulnerable populations, especially the Asian American community, here in San Francisco.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who is chronically infected with hepatitis B and is the honorary chairwoman of “SF Hep B Free,” emphasized the importance of establishing strong partnerships between public health officials, medical professionals and treatment advocates to educate the public and physicians on the viral hepatitis epidemic.

Herb K. Schultz, Region IX Director for HHS, called for regional and national implementation of the plan by bringing together partners from all sectors and communities. Ted Fang, San Francisco’s leading advocate to eliminate Hep B, served as the master of ceremonies for the event, which was held in a packed chambers at San Francisco’s Health Department hearing room.
-------------------------

Mayoral candidates talk hep B and C
By Liz Highleyman – Bay Area Reporter, November 3, 2011

HIV/AIDS has long been a key concern as the LGBT community considers candidates for local office, but this year hepatitis B and C are also on the radar. Men who have sex with men are one of the groups at increased risk for hepatitis B, and recent years have seen growing outbreaks of sexually transmitted acute hepatitis C among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men.

San Francisco Hep B Free and the San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force asked mayoral candidates how they would combat the city's hepatitis B and C epidemics; most of the major candidates provided responses.

Asians hit hard by hep B

Jeff Adachi committed to seek resources locally, statewide, and nationally for hepatitis treatment, prevention, education, testing, and research.

"I understand the tremendous impact hepatitis has on our communities and this awareness requires a commitment to action by City Hall," he said in his response. "As a person of Asian descent, I feel personally responsible to increase awareness."

Asian and Pacific Islander communities are particularly hard hit by hepatitis B, which is endemic in those parts of the world. An estimated one in 10 Asians are living with hepatitis B, which is the leading cause of primary liver cancer worldwide.

In addition, injection drug users have high rates of hepatitis B and C, which are easily transmitted through shared drug injection equipment. Adachi stressed that his work as San Francisco's public defender has demonstrated his belief that substance use must be decriminalized.

Board of Supervisors President David Chiu said that, if elected, hepatitis will be "a top public health priority." Chiu worked with Asian community leaders on the Hep B Free campaign, and he said he agrees with many of the December 2010 recommendations of the Hepatitis C Task Force.

"To provide critical hepatitis services we must maintain funding for Medi-Cal and Healthy San Francisco," Chiu emphasized. "As mayor I will be the city's chief advocate in Sacramento to preserve the programs San Franciscans count on."

Noting that hepatitis B is known as the "silent killer" because many people do not experience symptoms or realize they are infected until late stages of disease, Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting said, "We should expand and encourage more testing for HBV and HCV. ... We need to ensure that individuals receive adequate treatment and understand the risk they pose to society if they are infected."

Ting added that the city must improve its methods for gathering data in order to target prevention and treatment to the neediest neighborhoods. "My campaign to Reset San Francisco focuses on the necessity for data-driven decision-making, so our city government can be more effective and more responsive," he said.

Other candidates also spoke of public health as a major issue.

"As mayor, there will be no higher priority for me than public health, including addressing our ongoing crisis with hepatitis B and C," said City Attorney Dennis Herrera. "For the last decade, I've fought to expand access to quality, affordable health care in San Francisco, helping to draft Healthy San Francisco, and successfully defending it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court."

Joanna Rees, an adjunct professor at Santa Clara University, vowed to appoint a citywide hepatitis elimination coordinator. She also proposed a prevention campaign to include clean needle distribution and enforcement of safety measures at tattoo parlors and nail salons.

Interim Mayor Ed Lee praised Hep B Free's work to increase awareness and reduce hepatitis B infections, especially in Asian/Pacific Islander communities. "Media and grassroots messaging has raised awareness of hepatitis B and promoted testing of API adults, vaccinating the estimated 40 percent who are not infected or immune, and treating the 10 percent who are infected," he said.

Turning to hepatitis C, Lee supports the task force recommendations and said he would ask DPH to explore "new ways to treat hepatitis C," including the antiviral drug telaprevir (Incivek), which was approved along with a similar drug, boceprevir (Victrelis), in May.

Drawing on HIV leadership

Former District 8 Supervisor Bevan Dufty and former District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier both recommended that the city use its widely recognized leadership in HIV/AIDS as a model for addressing hepatitis B and C.

"Since the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis, San Francisco has been a world leader in prevention and treatment campaigns for communicable diseases," Alioto-Pier said. "Our city's efforts have saved the lives of countless San Franciscans, and our example has helped other communities save lives around the world. We need to apply our experience and our resources to dealing with hepatitis."

Dufty, who represented the Castro, said that San Francisco, as a leader in community response to HIV/AIDS, "must use that experience to mobilize public and community partnerships to end hepatitis B and C."

Dufty committed to ensure that DPH has adequate resources to tackle viral hepatitis. "Everyone in Healthy SF should be offered a hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis C testing and treatment," he said. "We can do better at building awareness about hepatitis C, including the possibility of sexual transmission."

Harm reduction for drug users

Dufty also stressed that he has been a "strong advocate" for safe syringe access and substance abuse treatment, and said he supports "a community-led approach" to establishing safe injection sites.

State Senator Leland Yee emphasized his two-year effort to pass SB 41, which allows physicians and pharmacists to provide sterile syringes to adults without a prescription. "We passed the single most important hepatitis and HIV prevention policy in the last 20 years," he said, adding that he is also interested in exploring safe injection sites.

District 11 Supervisor John Avalos said San Francisco should implement hepatitis B vaccine requirements, following in the footsteps of states across the country that mandate vaccination for entry into daycare, elementary, and middle schools. He added that the city needs a hepatitis C prevention program "that is well funded and doesn't need to go looking for funding every year."

Avalos, too, supports creation of safe injection sites. "These facilities, while controversial, have been proven to lower infection rates of HIV and hepatitis, provide for proper disposal of needles, eliminate the need for emergency services and enforcement costs to the city, help to temper addiction, and save lives," he said.

SF Hep B Free and the SF Hepatitis C Task Force will hold a press conference Friday, November 4, to discuss the city's response to hepatitis, coinciding with the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases conference taking place at Moscone Center this weekend.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Speaks On Important Bay Area Efforts to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma Encourages Testing, Education


When:
10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4

Where:
San Francisco Department of Public Health
Hearing Commission Room, Room 300
101 Grove St., (corner of Polk Street) San Francisco

What:
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Howard Koh, will discuss a comprehensive national plan to fight the viral hepatitis epidemic. A blood draw will take place to encourage widespread testing. Two local residents infected by viral hepatitis will speak on their experiences living with the disease, in addition to a primary care physician speaking on the importance of getting tested.

Why:
Dr. Koh and HHS are working to implement a national action plan to address viral hepatitis. In addition to discussing the Affordable Care Act's effect on the national plan, Dr. Koh will highlight the important role that San Francisco organizations have played in the movement to treat, prevent, and bring awareness to the viral hepatitis epidemic.

Viral hepatitis, which affects between 3.5 and 5.3 million Americans, is the leading cause of liver cancer. One in 10 Asians are chronically infected with hepatitis B and are four times more likely to die from liver cancer compared with the general population. Accordingly, San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the country.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, who is chronically infected with hepatitis B, will introduce Dr. Koh. Assemblywoman Ma serves as the honorary chairwoman for SF Hep B Free, which has implemented widespread testing and public awareness in San Francisco through establishing strong partnerships between public health officials, medical professionals and treatment activists.

Herb K. Schultz, Region IX Director for HHS, will also speak on regional and national implementation of the plan by bringing together partners from all sectors and communities.

Who:
Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Fiona Ma, California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore
Herb K. Schultz, Region IX Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
SF Hep B Free
San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force

RSVP:
All media should RSVP to Sam Singer and Allison Berry of Singer Associates at 415-227-9700 or Singer@singersf.com or Allison@singersf.com

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Mayoral Candidates Release Statements on Ending Viral Hepatitis

The press event calling on mayoral candidates to submit their plans on eradicating viral hepatitis if elected has been successful in drawing the candidates' attention to this important citywide health issue. Below are the statements from several major mayoral candidates on how he or she would combat viral hepatitis as mayor.


Jeff Adachi

As Mayor of San Francisco, I will commit to ending hepatitis in San Francisco by advocating and securing resources locally, statewide and nationally in the following areas related to hepatitis: Care & Treatment, Prevention, Education, Awareness and Testing, Public Policy, and Research and Surveillance. I understand the tremendous impact hepatitis has on our communities and this awareness requires a commitment to action by City Hall.

The Hep B Free San Francisco collaboration model between city government, healthcare organizations, community groups, and businesses will be championed to ensure sustainability as well as growth. As a person of Asian descent, I feel personally responsible to increase awareness of these startling facts: chronic hepatitis B is responsible for 80% of all primary liver cancer worldwide, liver cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Asian American men, and Asians and Pacific Islanders have the highest rate of liver cancer of any race/ethnic group.

I congratulate the collaboration on its success and acknowledge its continued commitment to this important health issue.

The tremendous work done by the Hep C Task Force in developing “Recommendations for strategically addressing Hepatitis C in San Francisco” must now be implemented. My administration will ensure that recommendations are prioritized in appropriate department’s budgets. A Hepatitis C community planning council will be supported by my administration to ensure continued focus on Hepatitis C issues.

As the San Francisco Public Defender for the last 9 years, I have demonstrated my belief in the courts and community that many issues including substance use must be de-criminalized. I support prevention activities and innovative treatment modalities based on best practices.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with the amazing individuals who have made the impossible thought of ending hepatitis in San Francisco into a reality.


David Chiu

I have been a strong advocate of our city’s response to hepatitis, and it will be a top public health priority as Mayor. As Board President, I assisted Ted Fang, Fiona Ma and other Asian community leaders with the Hep B Free campaign, to turn San Francisco into the country’s first hepatitis B free city. 1 in 10 Asians chronically infected with Hep B, and APIs have the highest rate of liver cancer, which is tragic since Hep B is preventable with a vaccine. We need to make sure everyone is monitored and treated, with free or low-cost hepatitis B testing and vaccinations, and continue to promote a public awareness campaign into every diverse community. With an estimated 12,000 San Franciscans infected with the hepatitis C virus, many unaware of their status, this is one of San Francisco’s most pressing health issues among many diverse communities - African Americans, Latinos, veterans, parolees, drug users, immigrants and low-income residents. I agree with many recommendations issued by the 2010 Hepatitis C Task Force: we need to increase our surveillance capacity, educate providers and the public, increase hepatitis testing, provide accurate risk information and hepatitis C prevention interventions, and improve health outcomes for those with the virus.

As Mayor, I would make sure DPH has resources to provide education and training to the public and providers. Compiling data is critical for diverse communities. In 2003, I led the online campaign to defeat Proposition 54, a measure that would have prohibited governments from collecting race-related health data. I would ensure we implement reporting requirements to track information by ethnic group. To provide critical hepatitis services, we must maintain funding for Medi-Cal and Healthy San Francisco. As Mayor, I will be the City’s chief advocate in Sacramento to preserve the programs San Franciscans count on.


Bevan Dufty

San Francisco has been a leader in the public and community response to HIV/AIDS. We must use that experience to mobilize public and community partnerships to end hepatitis B & C.

I thank Hep B Free for their consistent leadership. I commend the Hepatitis C Task Force for their excellent recommendations, and will honor the life and advocacy of Randy Allgaier by working hard to prevent the spread of this disease.

I am proud to have introduced legislation at the Board declaring May 19th, 2010 World Hepatitis Awareness Day. This annual event is a tremendous opportunity for our community to raise awareness about testing, prevention, and access to treatment.

As Mayor, I will work with the Department of Public Health to ensure they have the resources needed to tackle hepatitis B & C. Everyone in Healthy SF should be offered a hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis C testing and treatment. We can do better at building awareness about hepatitis C, including the possibility of sexual transmission.

We must work to prevent injection drug use-related transmission. I've been a strong advocate for safe syringe access and substance abuse treatment. I support a community-led approach to safe injection sites. Like I did during the creation of the Castro Youth Housing Initiative, I will include neighbors early and encourage them to hear from people who are in recovery about the need for harm-reduction based models of care.

Hepatitis B & C must be addressed as part of a comprehensive health agenda, combining a vigorous prevention strategy and cutting-edge treatment. I have successfully championed funding for vital services for initiatives such as Magnet, API Wellness and the Crystal Meth Task Force. As Mayor you can count on my responsive and attentive leadership to work with each of you to eradicate hepatitis B & C.

Dennis Herrera

Like far too many San Franciscans, my familiarity with hepatitis is personal. It extends to friends and colleagues who struggle with infection (and co-infection with HIV/AIDS). My familiarity includes the deeply affecting loss of my political mentor and first campaign manager, Jim Rivaldo, who advocated publicly and powerfully for public health services for those who have the disease. Jim passed away from liver cancer in 2007.

As Mayor, there will be no higher priority for me than public health, including addressing our ongoing crisis with Hepatitis B and C. That commitment is reflected in my record as City Attorney. For the last decade, I’ve fought to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare in San Francisco, helping to draft Healthy San Francisco, and successfully defending it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. I sued an anti-competitive medical group for undermining Chinese Hospital, which has provided culturally competent care for more than a century.

Aa Mayor, I’ll strongly support San Francisco Hep B Free’s efforts to make San Francisco the first hepatitis B free city in the nation. I’ll do that by committing to provide free and low-cost hepatitis B testing and vaccinations to those at-risk, especially Asian and Pacific Islander adults. I’ll work to implement recommendations from the Hepatitis C Task Force’s December 2010 report: to educate San Franciscans about hepatitis C and their hepatitis C status; to afford those living with hepatitis C the highest possible level of care and support for their health and longevity; and to create a San Francisco in which there are no new hepatitis C transmissions. I’ll also designate a high-level staff position to serve as my liaison to communities impacted by hepatitis B and C.

My familiarity with hepatitis is personal. And as Mayor, I’m committed to addressing it personally, too.



Leland Yee

As Mayor, I will embrace the recommendations from the California Department of Public Health, the SF Hepatitis C Task Force and the Hep B Free campaign by prioritizing free or subsidized testing, proper diagnosis and treatment for people chronically infected with hepatitis.

We must emphasize primary prevention of hepatitis infections. We need to educate adults about the hepatitis B vaccine – especially in the API community and the LGBT community where rates of hepatitis B are too high. Vaccination and education are key to preventing the spread of hepatitis B in our city. This work is already being done by community groups, like Hep B Free and Project Inform. As Mayor, I will support that work and build on it.

Most new cases of hepatitis C are caused by syringe sharing. That's why I spent two years fighting to pass SB 41 allowing physicians and pharmacists to provide sterile syringes to adults without a prescription. With the California Medical Association, California Nurses Association, SF AIDS Foundation and Drug Policy Alliance on my side, we passed the single most important hepatitis and HIV prevention policy in the last 20 years. As Mayor, I'm also interested in exploring the use of safe injection sites. I think it’s an innovative approach and have met with the Alliance for Saving Lives to discuss safe injection sites. I am particularly impressed with Vancouver’s Insite. I plan to learn more about safe injection sites, including visiting Insite after the election.

As Mayor, I will continue to work with public health experts to build-up and build-out our harm reduction programs. I have led prevention efforts at the state level and will prioritize prevention at the local level. We can stop viral hepatitis – making our City and the families who live here healthier.

Ed Lee

Chronic hepatitis B and C have had a significant impact on San Francisco, and yet receive relatively little attention. I strongly support efforts to educate the public and providers about the disease and promote testing, vaccinations, and treatment.

Chronic hepatitis B is the leading cause of liver cancer. I have strongly supported The Hep B Free Program launched to eliminate hepatitis B infection. It has significantly increased hepatitis B awareness, testing, vaccination, and treatment among Asian Pacific Islanders (APIs). The program seeks to inform the API community, health care system, policy makers, businesses, and the general public about the disease. Media and grassroots messaging has raised awareness of hepatitis B and promoted testing API adults, vaccinating the estimated 40% not infected or immune, and treating the 10% who are infected. Hepatitis B strikes 1 in 10 APIs versus 1 in 1,000 of the general population. The results of the program have been very encouraging and the city will continue to make great progress with the continuation of this important program

More than 12,000 San Franciscans are known to be infected with hepatitis C. Many more are not aware of their status. Among the disproportionately affected are African-Americans, Latinos, veterans, injection drug users, men who have sex with man, immigrants, low-income people, and people with HIV. Hepatitis C can lead to liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death.

The San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force consists of a group of medical and social service providers, educators, advocates, and people living with hepatitis C. The Task Force has issued recommendation on combating the hepatitis C epidemic. I am in strong support of these recommendations. The city’s Public Health Department will look for new ways to treat hepatitis C including the recently approved drug Incivek that has had promising initial results.


Emil Lawrence

My mother died from a combination of Hepatitis B and C, so I have a concern about these diseases. She was not Asian, but French and Armenian. She lived in Shanghai, China during the 1930s. These diseases take years to develop, silently, but once manifested turn into full blown cancers. And one enters a state of hopelessness. In 1975 we did not kno what Hep B and C was. We do today. These are diseases that took thousands of years to spread and develop so eradicating them is not going to happen any time soon.

Although, today we have some vaccines, we also have many men and women that do not know that they contain a silent deadly force as they walk this earth. We have to test and inform them that they do. We have to test for this disease the way we tested for AIDS and other diseases. And we have an obligation to these people, so that they do not knowingly infect others.

John Avalos

In order to stop the spread of Hepatitis B, I believe San Francisco should implement vaccine requirements as well as prevention methods, education, and increased public awareness. States all across the country are establishing vaccine requirements for entry into daycare, elementary, and middle schools, and there is much we can do to follow in their footsteps. I will work to improve access to the Hepatitis B vaccine through such efforts as expanding days and hours of operation and promoting the availability of vaccine prevention information and educational materials. We need to expand city resources to ensure that the public understands the importance of regular testing and prevention methods, and to ensure that we have up-to-date screening procedures as well as the capacity to conduct screenings to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.

San Francisco needs a full Hepatitis C prevention program, one that is well funded and doesn’t need to go looking for funding every year, and one that focuses on public outreach and prevention. In following the 2011 recommendations of the San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force, I support the creation of Safe Injection Facilities, and would be interested in developing a program in San Francisco. Service providers and advocates have recommended Safe Injection Facilities for years; these facilities, while controversial, have been proven to lower infection rates of HIV and Hepatitis, provide for proper disposal of needles, eliminate the need for emergency services and enforcement costs to the City, help to temper addiction, and save lives. As a harm reduction city, San Francisco would benefit from developing such facilities here.


Joanna Rees

The fight against Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C will be top priorities for my Mayoral Administration. Through the Hepatitis C Task Force and Hep B Free Campaign, San Francisco has made important strides in the areas of awareness, prevention, detection and treatment of both HBV and HCV. Moving forward, we aggressively implement policy recommendations from these working groups and assign a City-Wide Hepatitis Elimination Coordinator to ensure health providers, government agencies, neighborhood leaders and human service groups are receiving the information and resources needed to combat these silent killers, and employing best practices in terms of identifying and reaching our most at-risk populations.

Because most infected with HBV are unaware or do not exhibit symptoms, we must ensure that clinicians are screening for HBV—especially in the API community. As Mayor, I would strongly support the development of a clinicians “Honor Roll,” to promote and publicly recognize those who commit to screen all API patients for HBV. The Mayor is also uniquely positioned to bring together community stakeholders—including clinicians, community and business leaders---to support a sustained public awareness campaign, and to help provide additional resources to clinics and health facilities willing to provide low-cost screenings to the public, and ongoing treatment to chronically affected individuals.

On Hepatitis C, our strategy must be focused on greater awareness, increased prevention and better access to care. I strongly support full implementation of the Hepatitis C Task Force’s 2010 recommendations. These include not just better surveillance of at risk populations (especially those currently inside the criminal justice system), but a coordinated awareness campaign targeting clinicians and the public, greater screening capacity, a prevention campaign to include needle distribution and safety enforcement at tattoo parlors and nail salons, and policy changes for greater access to affordable HCV screening and treatment at health clinics.

Phil Ting

I am a proud San Franciscan, and it is of the utmost importance to me that we take preventive measures to address viral health issues in the city, especially Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

We should expand and encourage more testing for HBV and HCV, while also making tests more accessible to residents. HBV is known as the “silent killer” because many don’t exhibit symptoms and don’t realize they’re infected.

If anything, we need to ensure that individuals receive adequate treatment and understand the risk they pose to society if they are actually infected. The great work of active community members, like SF Hep B Free and the Hepatitis C Task Force, goes a long way to map steps we can take in order to protect our city and neighbors. Sometimes it takes a compassionate community to really increase adequate awareness. That’s what my campaign to Reset San Francisco is all about – empowering the community to get engaged and to get involved in making San Francisco even better.

If elected Mayor, I would work with the San Francisco Department of Public Health to ensure we’re working to implement public education programs for prevention and treatment. In conjunction with these education programs, the City also needs to improve its methods for gathering data – so we can track the outbreak and target the neediest neighborhoods with high rates of infection. My campaign to Reset San Francisco focuses on the necessity for data-driven decision-making, so our city government can be more effective and more responsive.


Michela Alioto-Pier

Since the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis, San Francisco has been a world leader in prevention and treatment campaigns for communicable diseases. Our city’s efforts have saved the lives of countless San Franciscans, and our example has helped other communities save lives around the world. We know we can have an impact. We need to apply our experience and our resources to dealing with Hepatitis.

The first step toward making our city Hepatitis B free is education. We need to continue the coordinated effort of the Health Department, private health providers, and anyone who serves the most at-risk population to ensure that people know what the disease is, how to recognize symptoms and how the disease is spread. We have to encourage people to get tested and get vaccinated. Those who have the disease must have access to treatment and help taking the steps necessary to avoid spreading the infection. HepBFree is a great start, and as Mayor I’ll make sure it is fully resourced.

The plan to address Hepatitis C has to move along much the same lines, with an even more aggressive push for testing because there is no vaccine. The California Department of Public Health Center for Infectious Diseases has developed a comprehensive strategy, and the City should press hard for implementation statewide. We should be coordinating with other public health agencies to create accurate profiles of those most at risk, and targeting information campaigns at those communities. The next Mayor should push hard in Sacramento for help ensuring universal access to testing, and funding for Hepatitis research.

San Francisco is fortunate to be home to a large, sophisticated medical community. We can and we must take a leadership role in stopping the spread of all forms of Hepatitis.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Mayoral Candidates Called on to Issue Plans for Ending Hepatitis and Liver Cancer in San Francisco

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angela Pang, apang@asianweek.com, (415) 373-4002


Mayoral Candidates Called on to Issue Plans for Ending Hepatitis and Liver Cancer in San Francisco

-Asian and LGBT Leaders Join Hep B and Hep C Advocates-


WHAT:
San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the country and liver cancer is the deadliest cancer in America. The main cause of liver cancer is hepatitis infection.

For first time Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C advocates will join together with leaders in healthcare, the Asian American community and the LGBT community to call on all candidates running for San Francisco Mayor to issue statements on how they will end Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in San Francisco, the primary causes of liver cancer.

WHO:
San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force
San Francisco Hep B Free
Fiona Ma, California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore
Scott Wiener, San Francisco Supervisor
Ted Fang, AsianWeek Foundation and San Francisco Hep B Free
Emalie Huriaux, San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force
Community leaders

WHEN:
Monday, October 17, 2011
4:30 p.m.

WHERE:
City Hall Steps
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco

BACKGROUND:
Hep B Free - a citywide effort to make San Francisco the first city in America to be free of hepatitis B - has teamed up with the San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force - a diverse group of individuals who have developed recommendations for strategically addressing hepatitis C in San Francisco. The groups are jointly asking mayoral candidates to issue statements on how their administration will end the hepatitis B and hepatitis C epidemics in the city if they are elected.

In July of this year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the first ever U.S. National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan, providing a coordinated, nationwide approach to address viral hepatitis. U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Howard Koh will be in San Francisco on November 4 to make a keynote address on the subject of "Ending ALL Hepatitis" at the 4th Annual "B a Hero" Hep B Free gala.

The mayoral candidates' statements will be published in the evening's Event Program, distributed to the media and published online including AsianWeek.com, HepCSF.org and SFHepBFree.org.

RSVP to:
Angela Pang, apang@asianweek.com or (415) 373-4002.

###

About Hepatitis B
Chronic Hep B infection is the greatest cause of liver cancer in the world, and the greatest health disparity between Asians and non-Asians. One in 10 Asians are chronically infected with Hep B and are 4 times more likely to die from liver cancer compared with the general population. 80% of liver cancer worldwide is caused by chronic HBV infection. Early detection of HBV will benefit the carrier as well as prevent the infection from spreading. Hepatitis B is not only vaccine preventable, but it also has effective treatments that prevent liver cancer.

About Hep B Free
Hep B Free is a multi-faceted and comprehensive campaign to make America free of hepatitis B disease and liver cancer through a nationwide collaboration, and network of localized efforts. The model was begun in San Francisco and is being replicated in Las Vegas, Washington DC, Philadelphia, San Mateo County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Hawaii and other municipalities. AsianWeek Foundation is a co-founder of Hep B Free with Asian Liver Center at Stanford University and San Francisco Department of Public Health. sfhepbfree.org

About Hepatitis C
Chronic Hep C is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States and the leading indication for liver transplant in the U.S. An estimated 4-6 million Americans are living with hepatitis C - most are unaware of their infection. Each year over 12,000 people die from hepatitis C-related liver disease in the U.S. There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. Early detection and treatment are essential to improving the lives of people living with hepatitis C and preventing new infections.

About San Francisco Hep C Task Force
In 2009, Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed a diverse group of individuals to form the San Francisco Hepatitis C Task Force and develop recommendations about how to strategically address hepatitis C in the city. In 2010, the Task Force developed recommendations in specific topic areas (i.e., Care & Treatment; Prevention, Education, Awareness & Testing; Public Policy; and Research & Surveillance). The Task Force continues to meet to ensure implementation of its recommendations. HepCSF.org

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Publication in the Journal of Community Health

Rita Shiau of the San Francisco Department of Public Health is the lead author in a new article just published in the Journal of Community Health, entitled "Using Survey Results Regarding Hepatitis B Knowledge, Community Awareness and Testing Behavior Among Asians to Improve the San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign." The article is available online now at this link and will be published in the print version of the Journal of Community Health in the next few months.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/f2582u4n432224h2/

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

4th Annual SFHBF Be a Hero Gala Fundraiser and Silent Auction


You are invited to join us for the 4th Annual San Francisco Hep B Free, B A Hero gala fundraiser and silent auction. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever! With your help, our Silent Auction has become one of the highlighted features of the evening with a wonderful and entertaining selection of items, as well as providing a great way to raise needed funds. The event takes place on Friday, November 4, 2011, at the Grand Ballroom of the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco. Deadline for auction items is October 21, 2011. Donated items should be mailed to the AsianWeek Foundation/SF Hep B Free office at 564 Market Street, Suite 320, SF, CA 94104. All donations are tax deductible as the law allows (Tax ID No. 20-1719535). If you have any questions, please contact Mary Jung at (415) 333-4338 or via email at silentauction@awfoundation.com.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Sunset Block Party and Leland Ave. Street Fair

September is full of community events, and we are excited to tell you about the Sunset Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 24 and the Leland Avenue Street Fair on Sunday, Sept. 25! Please see the flyers for event details.

We are also looking for volunteers to come help us raise public awareness of Hepatitis B screenings and education.



To volunteer on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Sunset Block Party between noon and 7 pm, please email Carrolyn Kubota at ckubota@awfoundation.com or call her at 415.373.4003.



To volunteer on Sunday, Sept. 25 at the Leland Avenue Street Fair between 10 am to 4 pm, please email Vivian Chau at vivian@sfhepbfree.org or call 415.321.5868.

Hope to see you and your families there!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

SFSU raises Hep B Awareness with student social media project

Students enrolled in Professor Grace Yoo's Asian American studies course at San Francisco State University, AAS 680 Community Changes and Development, were involved in raising awareness through the use of social media on several community issues. Students created blogs and YouTube videos to raise awareness on several different community issues. Several students chose to focus their efforts on the San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign. They were involved in creating innovative, engaging and fun YouTube videos that would encourage Asian Americans to get screened and tested for Hepatitis B.

Check out their work at this link: http://heproject.wordpress.com/about/

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

SF Hep B Free Partners with Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon


Portions from Asian Heritage Night show on Friday, Sept. 9 to go towards ending liver cancer.

SAN FRANCISCO, August 8, 2011 - The AsianWeek Foundation is proud to be hosting Asian Heritage Night at Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon on Friday, September 9, 2011 at 8 p.m.

A portion of each ticket sold will benefit San Francisco Hep B Free - a citywide effort to screen and vaccinate all Asians and Pacific Islanders for Hepatitis B, which affects 1 in 10 APIs.

Recently hailed as "A constant cascade of showstoppers" by the San Francisco Chronicle, Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon is the world's longest running musical revue. Packed with hilarious spoofs of pop culture & political characters, spectacular costumes, outrageously gigantic hats and one show-stopping number after another, the show continues to dazzle audiences at Club Fugazi in North Beach.

Asian Heritage Night guests will receive Beach Blanket Babylon: A Hats-Off Tribute to San Francisco's Most Extraordinary Musical Revue, a commemorative book by Janet Lynn. Educational information about Hep B will also be distributed.

San Francisco has the highest rate of liver cancer in the country, primarily among Asian residents. 80% of all liver cancer is caused by Hepatitis B infection. One in 10 Asian Americans is chronically infected with hepatitis B versus one in 1,000 of the general population. Early detection is important, and the hepatitis B vaccine can prevent hepatitis B infection and the consequences of infection.

"Over one third of San Francisco's residents are Asian American, and we're excited to have our very first Asian Heritage Night to honor this community and to help raise funds for Hepatitis B awareness," says Beach Blanket Babylon producer Jo Schuman Silver. "We're pleased to be working with the AsianWeek Foundation and San Francisco Hep B Free, two organizations that are doing great things for the city's Asian Pacific American community."

"Beach Blanket Babylon is a San Francisco institution and to have their support for our city wide campaign is fantastic." said Ted Fang, Director, AsianWeek Foundation and co-founder of San Francisco Hep B Free. "We applaud their efforts in helping us raise awareness and funds to help end Hep B disease and liver cancer. Attendees can also look forward to a special Hep B shout out during their performance!"

To purchase tickets and receive your souvenir, please click here and enter AWF in the discount box, at the bottom of the order page in step 3, or call the Box Office at 415.421.4222 and mention 'AWF' or visit the Box Office at Club Fugazi (678 Green St.) and mention 'AWF'

For groups of 20 or more, contact: 415.421-6788 or email groups@beachblanketbabylon.com and mention 'AWF'.

Persons under 21 will not be admitted to the show.

Community partners for the event include: Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Asian Business Connectors, Asian and Pacific Islander Cultural Center, California Dragon Boat Association, Center for Asian American Media, ChannelAPA.com, Chinatown Merchants Association, Filipino American Arts Exposition, Kearny Street Workshop, MYX TV, National Association of Asian American Professionals, Nihonmachi Street Fair, San Francisco Asian Peace Officers Association, San Francisco Chinese Club, SF Samoa, South East Asian Cultural Heritage & Musical Performing Arts, and Taiwanese American Professionals -SF.

WHO:
Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon Asian Heritage Night, benefiting SF Hep B Free

WHEN:
Friday, September 9 at 8 p.m.

WHERE:
Beach Blanket Babylon
Club Fugazi
678 Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard (at Green St. and Columbus Ave.)
San Francisco, CA

###
About Hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B infection is the greatest cause of liver cancer in the world, and one of the greatest health disparities between the Asian and non-Asian communities. Eighty percent of liver cancer worldwide is caused by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. One in 10 Asians are chronically infected with HBV and are four times more likely to die from liver cancer compared with the general population. Early detection of HBV will benefit the infected individual as well as prevent the infection from spreading. HBV is not only vaccine preventable, but it also has effective treatments that prevent liver cancer.

About Hep B Free

Hep B Free is a multi-faceted and comprehensive campaign to make America free of hepatitis B disease and liver cancer through a nationwide collaboration, and network of localized efforts. The model was begun in San Francisco and is being replicated in Las Vegas, Washington DC, Philadelphia, San Mateo County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and other municipalities. AsianWeek Foundation is a co-founder of Hep B Free with Asian Liver Center at Stanford University and San Francisco Department of Public Health. sfhepbfree.org

About AsianWeek Foundation

AsianWeek Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and develop Asian Pacific American identity, community and diversity. AWF encourages the sharing of differences and appreciation of diversity, working to strengthen relations between all Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, newer and older generations of Asian Pacific Americans, and Asians and non-Asians. AsianWeekFoundation.org

About Beach Blanket Babylon

Recently hailed as "A constant cascade of showstoppers" by the San Francisco Chronicle, Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon follows Snow White as she takes a fast-paced journey around the world in search of her "Prince Charming." Along the way she encounters a star-studded, ever-changing line-up of hilarious characters, including Prince William & Kate and the Queen of England, Lady Gaga, President Barack Obama & Michelle, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, John Boehner, Sarah Palin, Snooki (from "Jersey Shore"), Governor Jerry Brown, Oprah Winfrey, The Cast of "Glee," Mitt Romney & Michele Bachmann, Taylor Swift & Kanye West, Michael Jackson and the San Francisco Giants. beachblanketbabylon.com




Tuesday, July 19, 2011

San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign

World Hepatitis Alliance

A provocative advertising campaign promoting Hep B testing was launched in May 2010 in San Francisco where one in 10 Asian Americans are infected. Hep B attacks the liver and can lead to liver cancer and death. The disease shows no symptoms, so a Hep B test is the only way to know. About 25% of patients will develop liver cancer if untreated. But treatments are available to prevent liver cancer from developing The ad campaign titled, “Which One Deserves to Die?” was created by San Francisco Hep B Free, a group that hopes to make San Francisco free of Hep B disease.

Ten people from San Francisco’s diverse Asian communities are featured in each ad theme. Pageant queens, physicians, basketball players and others were seen on television, billboards, buses, metro stations, newspapers, and online. All sixty models were volunteers from the community, and numerous businesses donated nearly $1 million in services, including DAE Advertising who provided nine months of pro bono creative services. The ads urged people to “see a doctor who tests for Hep B” and noted that the disease “can be treated, even prevented.”

The citywide ad campaign was published in English and four Asian languages. It was hugely successful in raising awareness and drew national attention from The New York Times, National Public Radio, CBS News, and many media outlets. The Hep B Free model brings together a full spectrum collaboration to make system change and practice change for prevention of Hep B disease and liver cancer. The model is now being replicated nationwide in more than 14 cities with the goal of making all of America Hep B Free. “It is an important venture,” said Dr. Edward Chow the longest serving member of San Francisco’s Health Commission. “It has galvanized an entire city. Not just the health community—to help place on the map an important public health issue that seldom gets that same type of attention.”

For full article, and to read more about other Hepatitis initiatives, click here

Friday, May 27, 2011

Asian Heritage Street Celebration Draws over 90,000

A Look at the 2011 Asian Heritage Street Celebration
by Megan Kung and Angela Pang
May 27, 2011



The SF Hep B Free team walked around the fair to raise awareness for hepatitis B. One in 10 Asian Americans is chronically infected with HBV versus one in 1,000 of the general population.

For more information about the Asian Heritage Street Celebration, and to read entire article, click here

Saturday, May 21, 2011

San Francisco "B a Hero" Freeze Mob

100 SF Hep B Heroes gather for a freeze mob at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration in San Francisco, on May 21, 2011. The mission of their freeze mob was to raise awareness of Hepatitis B, spreading the word of screening and prevention.



For more information about the Asian Heritage Street Celebration, click here

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF) Hosts Successful Asian Marketing Summit and Announces 2011 Creative Excellence Award Winners

West Hollywood, CA--May 19, 2011- The Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF) announced today the winners of its annual creative excellence awards honoring the "best and brightest" in the Asian American advertising and marketing industries. The honorees were recognized at the 3AF's national conference entitled "Asian Marketing Summit 2011: A Deep Dive Into the Emerging Priority Segment" held last week in Las Vegas, Nevada.


The first place (Gold) award for creative campaign of the year went to IW Group, Inc. for their work on insurance company MetLife. Second place (Silver) in the creative campaign category went to DAE for their work on San Francisco Hep B Free, a pro bono campaign to raise awareness of liver disease and hepatitis. DAE also received the third place award (Bronze) for their work on Wells Fargo.

Toyota was recognized as the 3AF's Marketer/Client of the Year. For the first time, the 3AF recognized a new marketer, Time Warner Cable, for their efforts in the last year reaching out to the Asian American consumer. Community Health Plan of Washington received an honorable mention in this important category.

Named as marketing researcher of the year by the 3AF was GC Global Research, for their innovative study on behalf of Coca-Cola. KSCI (LA-18) was named as the 3AF's Media Partner of the Year for demonstrating outstanding contribution via investment or dedication to the 3AF's mission.

Nita Song, President of the 3AF, said, "We are very pleased with the success of our recent conference. Momentum in our industry is building, and this conference includes the "who's who" in Asian American marketing and advertising. We had the highest number of client marketers attend this year which I believe is a reflection of the growing focus on the Asian market."

According to the 2010 U.S. Census figures, the Asian American population saw significant growth that far outpaces the growth of the U.S. population by huge margins. In bigger states like California, Texas, New Jersey and Illinois, the Asian population growth is outpacing the much celebrated Hispanic growth. In fact, nine of the top ten states in the United States with Asian populations grew by double digit numbers.

The 3AF's annual conference is the country's largest event devoted solely to the Asian American advertising and marketing industries. Topics this year included the impact of social media; a discussion of how Asian GenYers consume media; the new digital American family; a look at the Census 2010 figures and the potential impact; non-traditional marketing; stereotypes vs.insights and case studies by State Farm, Verizon, Warner Bros. Pictures and AT&T. A highlight of the conference was the awards event, which included live performances by Asian YouTube sensations Timothy Delaghetto, Joseph Vincent, Erika David and Michelle Martinez.

Sponsors of the conference included: Nielsen and Verizon, and industry partners, the Association of National Advertisers and the Advertising Educational Foundation, and 19 Asian media outlets.

The Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF) is a national trade organization comprised of Asian American advertising agencies, Asian market advertisers, Asian media companies, and other industry specialists. Its mission is to grow the Asian American advertising and marketing industry, raise public awareness of the importance of the Asian American community and further professionalism within the industry. Newest corporate members of the 3AF include American Family Insurance and Wells Fargo. More information on the 3AF is available at www.3af.org.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Nordstrom Announces 2011 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Initiative

Company helps raise awareness and funds for hepatitis B testing and prevention

SEATTLE, May 2, 2011
PRNewswire

Nordstrom, Inc. announced today that it is recognizing Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in 2011 by teaming up with Hep B Free and OCA to help raise awareness of the importance of getting tested for hepatitis B—the leading cause of liver cancer and one of the greatest health disparities facing the Asian Pacific American community.

According to Hep B Free, one in 10 Asian Americans is chronically infected with hepatitis B versus one in 1,000 of the general population. Early detection is important, and the hepatitis B vaccine can prevent hepatitis B infection and the consequences of infection. As part of its 2011 "Living Well" initiative, Nordstrom is giving people an easy way to learn more about hepatitis B testing and prevention.

"Through our Heritage Month efforts, we are proud that we're able to recognize and celebrate the diverse backgrounds of our employees and our customers," said Amelia Ransom Letcher, vice president of Diversity Affairs at Nordstrom. "We're also extremely grateful to be partnering with Hep B Free and OCA, two fantastic organizations that are doing great things to educate people—specifically those within the Asian Pacific American community—about hepatitis B and find solutions for treatment and prevention."

A new website, www.nordstrom.com/apahm, provides an opportunity for visitors to take action and learn more about hepatitis B. For every person who completes a hepatitis B awareness quiz in May via www.nordstrom.com/apahm, Nordstrom will make a $35 donation to Hep B Free, up to $75,000. Nordstrom is also spreading the word about the initiative via signs in its stores, its catalogs and by sharing information with its Twitter and Facebook followers.

"OCA is pleased to partner with Nordstrom and Hep B Free to raise awareness around hepatitis B," said OCA National President Ken Lee. "This is a heightened problem in the Asian Pacific American community and it is important that we work together to increase visibility and educate everyone about this disease."

"This is the first time we've partnered with a national retailer on a nationally coordinated awareness effort with the Asian American community to help end Hep B disease and liver cancer. We applaud Nordstrom's support and partnership for this pressing health issue," said Ted Fang, Director, AsianWeek Foundation and co-founder of San Francisco Hep B Free. "We encourage everyone to take the short quiz to learn more about hepatitis B and join our efforts to make America Hep B Free."

For more information about Nordstrom's recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and other heritage months throughout 2011, please visit www.nordstrom.com/livingwell.

For full article, click here

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Watch a Music Video and Raise Money for Hep B!

-Money will be donated to ending Hepatitis B and liver cancer-

SAN FRANCISCO, AsianWeek, April 6, 2011 - In a new collaboration bringing together art, technology and community, San Francisco Hep B Free is partnering with The Jubilee Project to end hepatitis B disease and liver cancer by encouraging the public to simply view a music video.

For every view that the indie rock band Rooftop Pursuit receives for their latest single" Why I Sing" in the month of April, sponsors will each donate a penny. With two sponsors for example, each view will guarantee a donation of 2 cents towards Hep B awareness.

The Jubilee Project produced the video and conceptualized the campaign. "Why I Sing" follows the story of a girl with Hepatitis B, and can be viewed here:


Why I Sing (Official Music Video and Fundraiser for Hep B Free)


100% of the funds raised will be donated directly to Hep B Free America.

"We wanted to be involved in raising awareness for hepatitis B because of the prominence of the disease in the API community and among our own friends and families," said Eddie Lee, co-founder of The Jubilee Project. "We have to end hepatitis B transmission today, and the first step is awareness."

Also known as the "Silent Killer," Hep B currently affects 1 in 10 Asian Pacific Islanders, compared to 1 in 1,000 of the general public, and is the primary cause of liver cancer. Despite this, Hep B can be prevented with by vaccine, and treatments prevent liver cancer.

The Jubilee Project is also seeking sponsors to support this effort. Sponsors offer one penny per view, but can cap how much they ultimately choose to donate, as low as $50. Find out how you can become a sponsor: project.jubilee@gmail.com.

Funds will be used for national Hep B Free efforts to end Hep B and liver cancer including public awareness, clinician education, screening, vaccination and linkage to care.

"Hep B Free has a multi platform approach to outreach," says Hep B Free co-founder Ted Fang, director of the AsianWeek Foundation. "Not only are we on the ground with person to person connections, but we are also spreading the word and raising money using social media, events, partnerships, foundations and business partners."

For more information about the collaboration, or to pledge as a sponsor, contact Eric Lu at (469) 688-0988 or Eric_Lu@hms.harvard.edu

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Portola district offers free Hepatitis B screening service


KTSF--Portola district offers free Hepatitis B screening service

Thursday, April 14, 2011

(KTSF by Pei Liao)

Free Hepatitis B screening service is being offered in the Portola district of San Francisco. Starting today (April, 14th), residents of San Francisco can walk in to North East Medical Services(NEMS) San Bruno Clinic every Thursday from 2pm to 4pm, and get tested for free. Patients will be notified of their results through mail. Those who test negative can receive 3 Hep B vaccinations for free. Treatments are recommended for those that test positive. Free treatments are also available for low - income individuals who qualify . SF Board of Supervisors President David Chiu, Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, along with Supervisor Malia Cohen of district 10 were all invited to today's grand opening.

For link to full KTSF article, click here

KTSF Channel 26 Video Coverage:



For direct link to video, click here

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

City Leaders Welcome New Hep B Free Screenings at San Bruno Ave NEMS

SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2011 -

Grand Opening of free public Hepatitis B screenings at North East Medical Services (NEMS) San Bruno Clinic every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Light food and drinks will be provided.

On April 8, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its National HHS Action Plan to Reduce Health Disparities. Eliminating Hep B infection for Asians was listed as a top priority. Hep B causes most liver cancer and infects up to 1 out of 10 Asians. "The Portola neighborhood is home to many immigrants from Asia and Africa who may not know nor have ever been tested for hepatitis B," said Dr. Kenneth Tai, Medical Director at NEMS. "As many as 2 out of 3 people don't even realize they are affected and with the opening of our new Hep B screening site, our goal is to help provide awareness to this community."

AsianWeek Foundation is the lead organizer for the event and community partners include APA Family Support Services, Bethel Grace Lutheran Ministries, California Pacific Medical Center, Chinese Hospital, North East Medical Services, SF Chinese Club, SF Public Library, SF Samoa, and Sterling Bank and Trust.


WHO:
David Chiu, President, Board of Supervisors
Phil Ting, Assessor-Recorder
Malia Cohen, District 10 Supervisor
Jose Cisneros, Treasurer
Chris Jackson, Vice President, Community College Board of Trustees,
Kim-Shree Maufas, Board of Education
Eddie Chan, North East Medical Services CEO
Ted Fang, AsianWeek Foundation and San Francisco Hep B Free
Judy Li, Vice President, California Pacific Medical Center

WHEN:
Thursday, April 14
12 noon press conference and community kickoff
1-4 p.m. Free Hep B Screening

WHERE:
North East Medical Services San Bruno Clinic
2574 San Bruno Ave.
San Francisco, CA

INFO:
(415) 373-0895

For more information, and to RSVP online today:
hepbcliniclaunch.eventbrite.com/

###


About Hepatitis B:
Chronic Hep B infection is the greatest cause of liver cancer in the world, and the greatest health disparity between Asians and non-Asians. One in 10 Asians are chronically infected with Hep B and are 4 times more likely to die from liver cancer compared with the general population. 80% of liver cancer worldwide is caused by chronic HBV infection. Early detection of HBV will benefit the carrier as well as prevent the infection from spreading. Hepatitis B is not only vaccine preventable, but it also has effective treatments that prevent liver cancer.

About Hep B Free:
Hep B Free is a multi-faceted and comprehensive campaign to make America free of hepatitis B disease and liver cancer through a nationwide collaboration, and network of localized efforts. The model was begun in San Francisco and is being replicated in Las Vegas, Washington DC, Philadelphia, San Mateo County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Hawaii and other municipalities. AsianWeek Foundation is a co-founder of Hep B Free with Asian Liver Center at Stanford University and San Francisco Department of Public Health. sfhepbfree.org

About North East Medical Services:
North East Medical Services (NEMS) is one of the largest community health centers in the United States targeting the medically underserved Asian population. With over 40 yeras of experience, the non-profit community health center offers comprehensive health care services to a variety of patients, a majority of whom are uninsured or low-income. NEMS offers culturally-sensitive health care services in several Asian and other languages and dialects, including Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Burmese, Korean, and Spanish. NEMS currently operates four clinics throughout San Francisco and one clinic in San Jose. nems.org

About AsianWeek Foundation:
AsianWeek Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and develop Asian Pacific American identity, community and diversity. AWF does this by bringing people together through cultural events, media campaigns, consulting and innovative programs. AsisianWeek Foundation is part of the San Francisco Hep B Free Steering Committee and organizes Hep B community education and awareness events. asianweekfoundation.org

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

HepB-Free now in Las Vegas

March 23, 2011
Balita.com


LAS VEGAS – With all the cost-cutting and spend-trimming in healthcare agencies affecting federal, state, and local levels, some cities are blessed with private individuals and community organizations taking grassroots initiative to assist the government in disseminating medical information and conducting preemptive action to prevent the occurrence to communities at-risks of a major infirmity such as Hepatitis B (or Hep B).


Janet Zola (4th from left), from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and SF Hep B Free Steering Committee

One such fortunate city is Las Vegas in Nevada, home to a large group of Asians and Pacific Islanders ((collectively called APIs) in the west coast.

Filipino-American Aurora Jose-Wong, one of the prime movers behind HepBFree-Las Vegas, understands the risks Hep B poses to Asians and Pacific Islanders. Modeled largely after the pioneering work of three year-old HepB-Free in San Francisco, California, Wong conducts more research, and patterns the Las Vegas version after it. The San Francisco HepB-Free is the largest, most intensive healthcare campaign for Asian and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. and catapults the city at the forefront of the nation in fighting chronic Hepatitis B.

“The HepBFree-Las Vegas is a community initiative dedicated to reducing Hepatitis B that causes liver cancer among Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in Southern Nevada through a coordinated program,” shares Wong.

Launched in February, the HepBFree-Las Vegas plans to conduct a three-pronged campaign through “culturally and linguistically appropriate awareness, education, and outreach by disseminating information through API-based media, city-wide forums, and workshops; by providing low-cost or free screening and vaccinations to APIs in coordination with partnering health facilities, and at planned events on-site; and by linking those afflicted with chronic Hepatitis B to a system of health care delivery,” reveals Wong.

The Las Vegas HepB-Free Coalition includes the Asian Chamber of Commerce Foundation (ACCF), Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), Philippine Medical Association-Nevada (PMAN), Philippine Nurses Association-Nevada (PNAN), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Volunteers in Medicine Southern Nevada (VMSN) and Clinical Pathology Labs.

At the official launch held at Salo-Salo Grill-Las Vegas, Wong brought together well-known entertainer Tony Ruiviar, co-founder of Society of Seven, Janet Zola, Health Promotion Specialist from the San Francisco Department of Health, and member of SF HepB-Free Steering Committee, Dr. Fernando Ona, a gastroenterologist from Hawaii, and Dr. Lawrence Sands, Chief Health Officer of SNHD.

Showman Tony Ruivivar opened the forum with the revelation of his scary bout with Hepatitis B recently. A perfect poster boy for Hep B early detection and treatment (see sidebar story), Ruivivar is now the spokesperson for HepBFree-Las Vegas.

At the healthcare forum, Ms. Zola explores and shares the strategies they used in San Francisco’s HepB-Free campaign, and fields questions from the audience.

Dr. Fernando Ona, chief of the GI Unit of the VAIHCH in Honolulu, has a lively banter with his audience in-between his lecture, as he explains in layman’s language what Hepatitis B is all about, and its importance especially to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. He outlines in simple terms how the disease is detected, how it can be prevented and treated.

Hep B is not a genetic or hereditary disease, and is not spread through breast-feeding, kissing, coughing, or sharing food. Hep B, explains Dr. Ona, is a virus spread through direct contact with infected blood or body fluids (such as semen or vaginal fluid).

“One of the most common ways the virus is spread is when a mother gives birth to her baby and unknowingly passes the virus to her newborn,” reveals Dr. Ona. More importantly, Dr. Ona reminds his audience, Hep B is most common in countries where screening and vaccination programs are not routinely performed particularly in Third World countries. Among the most vulnerable ethnic groups are Asians, Pacific Islanders, Africans and those from Eastern Europe. He advises everyone, who hailed from these regions, to get tested for Hep B, and vaccinated even if they feel healthy.

“Family and household members of persons afflicted with chronic Hep B need also to be screened and vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of the virus to others,” he warns.
Because chronic Hep B does not exhibit symptoms, a simple blood test detects early if a person has chronic Hep B. Simple blood tests measure the level of the virus in the body and detect if the virus is harming the liver. A person, unknowingly aware that he/she has chronic Hep B, if undetected early could suffer serious liver damage that could lead to death.

Getting tested for chronic Hep B, according to Dr. Ona, is primordial as it is the key to early detection and management of the disease and help prevent serious liver damage.
When one tested negative for Hep B, it means that person does not have Chronic Hep B, and has not been infected with the virus. Nevertheless, he/she needs the Hep B vaccine for long term protection against the virus, so that the body can successfully fight against infection in the future.

If one tested positive for Hep B, Dr. Ona advises strongly that the person must talk immediately with his/her doctor and together plan the best way to reduce the risk of serious liver damage. “Constant monitoring is a must to detect if the virus is inflicting the liver because the infection can change overtime, even if the person feels healthy. A regular liver imaging through an ultrasound helps monitor the health of the liver,” adds Dr. Ona.
The Hepatitis B vaccine is a series of three shots given over a six-month period.

Other than vaccines, Dr. Ona also advises taking anti-viral medicines to help reduce the amount of virus in the body.

Dr. Lawrence Sands explains the role and responsibility of Southern Nevada Health District in promoting the public health interest and its support to HepB-Free Las Vegas.

Wong appeals to healthcare practitioners present – physicians, nurses, healthcare providers, as well as local organizations such as the National Federation of Filipino-American Organizations (NaFFAA), Organization of Chinese Americans-LV Chapter (OCA-LV) , and various Hawaiian associations in Nevada, among others, for help in disseminating the mission and objectives of HepB-Free Las Vegas.

A visit to SF HepB-Free website reveals that API’s have the highest risk of Hepatitis B of any ethnic group. Hepatitis B is a serious disease responsible for 80% of all liver cancers among APIs, who 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.

The American Liver Foundation finds that one in 10 Asian Americans is chronically infected with the Hepatitis B virus, common in many countries in Southeast Asia. Most are infected at birth or by an infected family member.

A ‘silent killer,’ chronic Hep B does not exhibit any symptoms, until there is liver damage or liver cancer, and the person has no way of knowing whether he/she has Hepatitis B or not – until he/she gets tested, it’s too late to fight it, or find a cure for it.

A research conducted by J Viral Hepat in 2006, finds that an estimated two million people in the United States are living with Chronic Hepatitis B. “and most do not even know it,” adds the Institute of American Medicine of the National Academies. In 2010, Hepatitis B (HepB) is considered a leading cause of liver disease in the United States. (Story/Photos: Zen S. Laluna)

For access to the fill article, please click here

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Successful Citywide Prevention Campaign to be Replicated

CPIC integral to evaluation of campaign's effectiveness; other areas to replicate approach

FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 12, 2011
PR Newswire Press Release

The Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC) and three other institutions have released new research findings to demonstrate that the massive collaborative effort known as the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign has increased awareness, testing and vaccination for chronic hepatitis B – a silent killer and the leading cause of liver cancer – in the city's Asian and Pacific Islander community. Asians and Pacific Islanders are the racial/ethnic group at highest risk of chronic hepatitis B.

CPIC Research Scientist Ellen Chang, Sc.D., played an essential role in the breakthrough study just published in the Journal of Community Health. She and colleagues from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the AsianWeek Foundation, and the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University found that Hep B Free provides communities with a powerful and cost-efficient model to prevent hepatitis B and associated liver cancer in at-risk populations.

Last May, the New York Times covered the campaign, which started in 2007, for its striking yet controversial advertisements.

"Because of this innovative and inclusive campaign, which pulled together 160 public and private partners across San Francisco, thousands of high-risk individuals were vaccinated, preventing them from ever developing liver cancer due to hepatitis B," said Dr. Chang. "Thousands more were screened for chronic hepatitis B, enabling those who tested positive to be routinely screened for liver cancer to catch the disease early and cure it."

The campaign was the first city-wide effort to combat hepatitis B and the first to focus so broadly on Asian and Pacific Islander health. Partners included the Asian and Pacific Islander community, the health care system, policymakers, public officials, businesses, and the general public.

Dr. Chang and her study collaborators showed an 8% increase in hepatitis B screening tests throughout San Francisco from 2006 (just before the campaign was launched) to 2008 and a 17% increase in tests for immunity from the disease. Community events and fairs designed to increase hepatitis B awareness and prevention reached 200,000 individuals.

Prior to the campaign's launch, 30% of primary health care providers in San Francisco could not correctly identify the screening test for hepatitis B and most underestimated the burden of hepatitis B in Asians and Pacific Islanders. As a result of the educational events and materials distributed, more than half of primary care physicians in San Francisco and all hospitals in the city pledged to screen Asian and Pacific Islander individuals routinely for the disease.

For the entire article, and more information about CPIC's research study,
click here

For a PDF version of the article, click here

SOURCE Cancer Prevention Institute of California

This press release was also featured in:
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Friday, January 7, 2011

What You Should Know About Hepatitis B

Featured in Vietnam Talking Points
Posted January 7, 2011
By Jennie Le

When I was a child, I lost someone close due to the compromising effects of the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). As a result of HBV, liver cancer crept up on him so much sooner and faster than it should have. He died when he was only 42.

Now, I’m not a crusader for HBV awareness, prevention, and screening. In fact, I don’t think I paid much attention to this topic very much until recently. However, after learning much more about this virus and realizing how close to home it’s hit, I wanted to make sure my fellow readers have insight on this detrimental infection.

What is HBV? Hepatitis B is a disease caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus. Chronic infection with HBV can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. About 60% – 80% of primary liver cancer worldwide is caused by chronic HBV infection. There have been studies that say HBV is 50 -100 times more infectious than HIV and can survive out of the body for up to 7 days. Worldwide, 370 – 400 million suffer from chronic HBV versus 40 million who suffer from HIV. (Disclaimer: My point isn’t to say HIV isn’t as important to learn about and prevent, but merely to show how HBV deserves just as much attention as HIV gets in education and media.)

How is it transmitted? Many people with chronic HPV exhibit no symptoms and feel pretty healthy. It can be transmitted through 1) a mother to a child at the time of birth, 2) contact with infected blood, 3) and unprotected sex. Among the Asian & Pacific Islander (API) community, transmission of HPV often occurs during birth from mother to child. Because HPV is often symptomless, the disease can progress undetected until it is too late and treatment options are limited or ineffective.

How does it affect America? In the US, there are an estimated 60,000 people infected with HBV each year, with 5,000 people dying each year from HPV related liver cancer or cirrhosis with liver failure. We lose more than $700 million in work and medical loss costs due to HPV-related conditions. An estimated 1.25 million Americans are chronically affected with HBV. Over half affected are API Americans.

How does it affect the API community? As many as 1 out of 10 API Americans are chronically affected as opposed to 1 in 1000 Caucasian Americans. About 1 out of 4 people who have HBV will get liver cancer. In addition, APIs are 100 times more likely to have chronic HBV than Caucasians and have the highest rate of liver cancer for any racial/ethnic group, which is the second most common cause of cancer in API men.

What has been done in our community? In 2007, San Francisco set a citywide campaign to be the first HBV free city in the nation through “San Francisco Hep B Free.” This unprecedented 2-year campaign began in April hoping to screen, vaccinate, and treat all San Francisco API residents of HPV by providing convenient, free or low-costing testing opportunities. SF has the highest liver cancer rate in the nation, and understanding that Hepatitis B was responsible for 80% of all liver cancers among APIs, the campaign attempted to educate and treat people about HBV.

What are some myths surrounding HBV? Hepatitis B is NOT transmitted through
1. Food/water
2. Casual contact such as hugging or shaking hands
3. Kissing, sneezing or coughing
4. Breastfeeding

What can we do to prevent/treat it? Since the diagnosis of hepatitis B is so easily missed by both patients and their physicians, the only way to diagnose for hepatitis B infection is through a simple and inexpensive blood test. It is preventable with a simple vaccine series. By identifying the 1 in 10 API Americans who are unaware of their HBV, vaccinating those who don’t have it now, and educating the community how the issue at hand and how to handle it, we will see the high numbers of those affected by HBV drop.

Being involved and aware are simple. Get tested. The next time you visit your doctor, ask for an HBV test if you haven’t already. This isn’t included in your routine physical exam, so be sure to request the two blood tests to determine if you have HBV. Get vaccinated. If you are negative for the surface antigen and surface antibody, get the 3-shot Hepatitis B vaccination. Get involved. Learn more about HBV and share it with your friends and family.

For the entire article, including more information on HBV, click here
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