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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2017
CONTACT:
Kate Moraras, Hepatitis B Foundation
(703) 623-4364/kate.moraras@hepb.org
Hep B United Commends Targets to Eliminate Hepatitis B in U.S. by 2030
Doylestown, PA - Hep B United, a national coalition to address and eliminate hepatitis B, today welcomed the report on A National Strategy for the Elimination of Hepatitis B and C: Phase Two Report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). The expert committee concluded that a 50 percent reduction in mortality from chronic hepatitis B, averting over 60,000 deaths, is possible in the United States by 2030. The report also determined that eliminating mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B is possible.
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). In the U.S., it is estimated that over 2 million Americans are living with chronic HBV infection, only 25 percent are aware of their infection, and less than 10 percent of infected individuals are able to access care and receive treatment. The committee set targets for hepatitis B elimination, reporting that meeting the goals would require diagnosing 90 percent of cases, linking 90 percent of those to care, and treating 80 percent of those cases.
"The report confirms significant improvements are needed for prevention and increase in screening and treatment of hepatitis B," said Joan Block RN, BSN, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Hepatitis B Foundation and Co-Chair of Hep B United. "The targets set are bold and require the political will and resources as stated by the committee's first report."
"We are pleased to see the committee's recommendations highlighting the essential role of primary care in addressing hepatitis B," said Jeffrey Caballero, Executive Director of
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)
and Co-Chair of Hep B United. "Community health centers effectively reach medically underserved communities and provide culturally and linguistically competent models in preventing and treating hepatitis B."
The report responds to the World Health Organization's call for countries to eliminate viral hepatitis as a major public health problem by 2030, and recommends specific actions towards the elimination of hepatitis B and C within five key areas: information, interventions, service delivery, financing and research.
Hep B United commends NASEM for a comprehensive call to action and identifying targets to eliminate hepatitis B. The key preventive actions include the need to expand access to adult hepatitis B vaccination as a key prevention measure, federal support for a standard national public health surveillance system, and investment in research for a hepatitis B cure.
A National Strategy for the Elimination of Hepatitis B and C: Phase Two Report
, prepared by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is available online at
nationalacademies.org/HepatitisElimination.
About Hep B United
Hep B United is a national coalition that was established by the Hepatitis B Foundation and the
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
to address the public health challenge of hepatitis B. Hep B United is dedicated to reducing the health disparities associated with hepatitis B by increasing awareness, screening, vaccination, and linkage to care for high-risk communities across the United States. For more information on Hep B United, please visit
http://hepbunited.org
. To learn more about the regional partner coalitions, please visit
http://hepbunited.org/local-campaigns
.
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