Hepatitis B Foundation Urge Philadelphia Leaders to Make Viral Hepatitis Prevention a Local Priori

PHILADELPHIA - June 2, 2015 - PRLog -- Date: Thursday, June 4, 2015

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Philadelphia City Council Chamber, 494 N. Broad Street, 4th floor, Philadelphia, Pa 19107

Details: Representatives from the Hepatitis B Foundation will visit Philadelphia City Council to urge city leaders to support increased testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Philadelphia’s at-risk populations.

Foundation leaders and the citywide, community-owned education campaign they have created, Hep B United Philadelphia (HBUP), will join Hepatitis C Allies of Philadelphia (HepCAP) to co-present an informational briefing to city council members.

Philadelphia City Councilman At-Large, David Oh, will issue a proclamation to demonstrate support for the coalition’s mission to improve screening, prevention and treatment for hepatitis B and C in the city. Dr. Walter Tsou, former Philadelphia Health Commissioner, will address the council as a board member of the Hepatitis B Foundation and co-founder of Hep B United Philadelphia. The co-chairs of HBUP and HepCAP will discuss the local hepatitis B and C epidemics and what is being done to address these serious health issues.

These efforts have been coordinated in recognition of National Hepatitis Awareness Month to highlight the silent epidemic of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections that are estimated to affect more than 5 million Americans, most of whom are unaware that they are infected.

Hepatitis B Is A Philadelphia Story: Dr. Baruch Blumberg, Fox Chase Cancer Center, discovered the hepatitis B virus for which he won the Nobel Prize. He also invented the first hepatitis B vaccine that is now manufactured by two companies, Merck and GSK, both headquartered in the Philadelphia region The Hepatitis B Foundation, which was co-founded by Dr. Blumberg, is the only national nonprofit dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and was established just outside Philadelphia in Bucks County.

About Hep B United Philadelphia: Hep B United Philadelphia seeks to increase the visibility of hepatitis B and liver cancer as an urgent health priority by increasing hepatitis B testing and vaccination rates, particularly among at-risk communities, and involving and mobilizing stakeholders and policy decision-makers to improve access to care for both the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B and liver cancer. To learn more, go to www.hepbunitedphiladelphia.org.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation: Headquartered in Doylestown, Pa., the Hepatitis B Foundation was founded in 1991 and is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. To learn more, visit www.hepb.org.

About HepCAP: HepCAP works to position Philadelphia as a national leader in the fight against hepatitis C. By teaming up with specialists and community members, HepCAP aims to increase awareness of hepatitis C, while improving local prevention, testing and treatment services. For information on our bi-monthly meetings, go to www.hepcap.org.

Contact: Sarah Larson at sarah@furiarubel.com or 215-340-0480