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San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign
B Sure, B Tested,
B Free
First City in the US to test and
vaccinate all Asian and Pacific Islanders for hepatitis
B
San Francisco, CA (April 18, 2007) –
Mayor Gavin Newsom, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and
Supervisor Ed Jew will lead representatives from over 50
healthcare and Asian Pacific Islander (API)
organizations to launch the first San Francisco Hep B
Free Campaign on Wednesday, April 25th at New Asia
Restaurant at 772 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA.
This major collaborative effort brings together city
government, private healthcare and non-profit community
organizations in a 2-year-long campaign to screen,
vaccinate, and treat all API residents for hepatitis B (HBV).
The SF Hep B Free campaign will put San Francisco at the
forefront of America in fighting chronic hepatitis and
will be the largest healthcare campaign to target Asian
and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.
Hepatitis B is a serious disease responsible for 80% of
all liver cancers among APIs. San Francisco’s API
residents comprise 34% of the city’s population and bear
a disproportionate burden of liver cancer and undetected
HBV infection. San Francisco has the highest liver
cancer rate in the nation. It is estimated that 1 in
10 people in the API community have an undiagnosed
infection. APIs are up to 100 times more likely to
suffer from chronic HBV infection and 4 times more
likely to die from liver cancer compared with the
general population.
“Hepatitis B virus is a highly infectious disease that
is affecting the health of our vibrant Asian and Pacific
Islander community,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom.
“Fortunately, a vaccine exists that is safe and
effective. San Francisco is committed to preventing the
spread of this virus. Please join our efforts in making
San Francisco a hepatitis B free city.”
In November 2006, Mayor Newsom signed a resolution
authored by then Supervisor Fiona Ma establishing the
goal of universal HBV screening and vaccination for API
residents. The SF Hep B Free Steering Committee was also
formed, comprised of the San Francisco Department of
Public Health, Asian Liver Center at Stanford University,
and AsianWeek Foundation. Assemblywoman Ma serves
as honorary chairperson. "I am proud to help lead this
campaign because it focuses on prevention and
awareness," said Assemblywoman Ma, an HBV carrier
herself. "These are key factors for preventing the
spread of hepatitis B in the Asian and Pacific Islander
community."
The SF Hep B Free campaign will spread its message of
B Sure, B Tested, B Free with media outreach
including Asian television, print, and radio as well as
mainstream media outlets. Members of the SF Hospital
Council and the SF Community Clinic Coalition, the Asian
Liver Center, API Wellness Center and others will
provide accessible and free or low-cost screenings and
vaccinations via physician offices, health clinics, and
street fairs. “The goal of the campaign is to bring
awareness to each and every API living in San Francisco
and have them tested for hepatitis B."" said Dr.
Mitch Katz, Director of Public Health, City and
County of San Francisco.
"We are very pleased to be a part of this campaign,"
said Brenda Yee, CEO, Chinese Hospital and
President of the SF Hospital Council. "The hospitals in
San Francisco are in full support of educating and
providing hepatitis B health access to the Asian and
Pacific Islander community."
“There are almost 400 million people in the world living
with chronic HBV infection and 75% of them, about 300
million, live in Asia,” said Dr. Samuel So, Lui
Hac Minh Professor of Surgery and Director of the Asian
Liver Center at Stanford University. “This is a big
problem for Asians and Asian Americans, because most
Asian Americans are recent immigrants and their doctors
have never tested them. For this reason, our SF Hep B
Free campaign’s main message to every API in San
Francisco is: B Sure, B Tested and B Free.”
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Contacts:
Grace Niwa
Niwa Public Relations
Tel: 646-644-5799
grace@niwapr.com
About the San Francisco Department of
Public Health
The mission of the San Francisco Department of Public
Health (SFDPH) is to protect and promote the health of
all San Franciscans. The Communicable Disease Prevention
Unit, a section of the Health Department prides itself
in promoting Hepatitis B awareness and prevention
strategies, including vaccination and testing sites
throughout the San Francisco community. For more
information, visit
www.sfdph.org
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 and Asian Americans. Founded in 1996,
the ALC has grown to become a national and international
leader in fighting this global epidemic through
outreach, education, advocacy, and research. For more
information, visit
http://liver.stanford.edu
About AsianWeek Foundation
The AsianWeek Foundation is a community based non-profit
that celebrates the diversity of Asian Pacific America
through identity assemblage – bringing together the
multiplicity of groups and personality that make up our
community. The AsianWeek Foundation does this by raising
funds to support such activities, organizing activities,
and working with and supporting other community based
groups. The AsianWeek Foundation also seeks interaction
between Asian Pacific America and other communities and
cultures. For more information, visit
http://www.asianfairsf.com
About the San Francisco Hep B Free
Coordinating Council
The SF Hep B Free Coordinating Council is a
first-in-the-nation effort calling on the collaboration
of a wide spectrum of organizations and agencies from
the Asian Pacific American and healthcare communities
for testing and vaccinating all Asian and Pacific
Islander residents, with the goal of making San
Francisco free of Hepatitis B. For more information,
visit
www.SFHepBfree.org |
