Hep B Free Philadelphia Campaign
Learn more at www.hepbfreephiladelphia.org
Hep B Free Philadelphia is a public awareness and education campaign – based on the enormously successful San Francisco Hep B Free campaign – that is being launched to address the growing severity of hepatitis B and liver cancer in the U.S.
The primary goals of the Philadelphia campaign include the following:
- (1) Raise the public profile of hepatitis B and liver cancer as an urgent health priority;
- (2) Promote hepatitis B testing and vaccination, particularly among at-risk populations; and
- (3) Involve key stakeholders and policy decision-makers to improve access to care for both prevention and treatment to reduce the burden of hepatitis B and liver cancer.
To achieve these goals, Hep B Free Philadelphia will establish partnerships to develop multiple levels of engagement and activities to ensure that this is truly a city-wide, community-owned campaign to improve the health and wellness of all Philadelphians!
Hepatitis B: A Philadelphia Story
Philadelphia is at the center of the hepatitis B story. The hepatitis B virus was discovered by Dr. Baruch Blumberg at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, for which he received a Nobel Prize, and he also invented the first hepatitis B vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is manufactured by only two companies in the U.S. – GlaxoSmithKline and Merck - which are both located in the Philadelphia region.
The first animal that was discovered to be most useful in studying hepatitis B was a groundhog living at the Philadelphia Zoo, and the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B – the Hepatitis B Foundation - was established just outside Philadelphia.
So, it is only natural that Philadelphia would now take the lead in advancing the Hep B Free campaign as a means to help make hepatitis B a top health priority in the city and nationwide!
Launch of Hep B Free Philadelphia
On June 15, 2010, the Philadelphia Health Commissioner, Dr. Donald Schwarz, was the keynote speaker at a special press conference at City Hall and presented the Mayoral Proclamation in support of Hep B Free Philadelphia. Other featured speakers included Joan M. Block, executive director of Hepatitis B Foundation who initiated the Hep B Free Philadelphia campaign; Walter Tsou, MD, former Philadelphia Health Commissioner; and Nina Ahmad, PhD, chair of the Mayor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs. More than 40 representatives from the many stakeholder groups involved in the campaign attended to show their support of this important public health initiative.
PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE SUPPORT
(as of June 15, 2010)
All organizations are encouraged to join this important public health campaign!
AIDS Services in Asian Communities (ASIAC) Albert Einstein Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation American Cancer Society, SE Pennsylvania American Liver Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Division AmeriChoice of Pennsylvania Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) at Drexel, Jefferson, Temple, UMDNJ and UPenn medical schools Boat People SOS, Philadelphia Bristol-Myers Squibb Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia Center for Asian Health at Temple University Chinatown Health and Information Center Chinatown Medical Services/Greater Philadelphia Health Action CTE Healthcare Communications Drexel University College of Medicine Drexel University School of Public Health ox Chase Cancer Center Gilead Sciences HBV Team, UPenn HBV Team, Princeton Health Promotion Council of Southeast PA
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Hepatitis B Foundation HepTREC Intercultural Family Services Lourdes Medical Associates Mayor's Commission on Asian American Affairs Nationalities Service Center North Penn Korean Coalition Pennsylvania Department of Health Pacific Rim Resource Center Penn Asian Health Initiatives Philadelphia Department of Public Health Philip Jaisohn Memorial Center Planned Parenthood, Philadelphia Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition (SEAMAAC) Temple University School of Medicine Thomas Jefferson University College of Medicine University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Wedge Medical Center Women’s Christian Alliance |
