Coalition Against Hepatitis for People of African Origin (CHIPO)
The Coalition Against Hepatitis for People of African Origin (CHIPO) is a national community coalition co-founded and led by the Hepatitis B Foundation. We are comprised of organizations and individuals interested in addressing the high rates of hepatitis B infection among African communities in the U.S. CHIPO serves as a forum for sharing information and best practices, and improving national capacity to improve hepatitis B awareness, testing, vaccination and treatment among highly affected African communities.
People of African origin are disproportionately affected by hepatitis B infection. In fact, in some African communities in the U.S., between 5%-15% of people have chronic HBV infection. Unfortunately, due to the silent nature of the disease, lack of disease awareness, and limited health care access, most African community members who have hepatitis B DO NOT KNOW that they are infected. This puts them at much greater risk for premature death from cirrhosis or liver cancer.
The key to addressing the high burden of hepatitis B infection in people of African origin is to improve awareness and access to hepatitis B information, screening, vaccination, and follow-up care. CHIPO brings together people around the country who are working in their own local communities to address these very issues.
Join CHIPO!
Does your organization serve African immigrant populations in the U.S., or are you a passionate community member? All are welcome! Join us for our next bi-monthly CHIPO coalition call:
- Monday, January 25, 2021, 3-4pm, EDT
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Link to Join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82508066108?pwd=cTlZazJBOUdkQXUwU0J5U2pNZVpiZz09
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Meeting ID: 825 0806 6108
Passcode: 993868 -
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc9X5F63Hs
News and Updates
Check out our latest blog post, describing the virtual celebration of National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV and Hepatitis Awareness (NAIRHHA) Day 2020!
Recent Lancet article: Converging Pandemics: Implications of COVID-19 for the Viral Hepatitis Response in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Major Article Published in Nature on Hepatitis B in Africa: The silent epidemic killing more people than HIV, malaria or TB
View our New Publication! Barriers to Hepatitis B Screening and Prevention for African Immigrant Populations in the United States: A Qualitative Study (2020)
From our Partners
Montefiore Einstein Starfish Project is offering FREE hepatitis B testing for West Africans in the Bronx, NYC. Click here for more details.
African Services Committee in New York City recently delivered a presentation on Project DELIVER: Decreasing and Eliminating Liver Cancer by Increasing Viral Hepatitis Testing & Educational Resources. Click here to view the presentation.
Read about a new initiative of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health to improve linkage to HBV care for West African migrants in the Barcelona metro area, a project known as HBV-COMSAVA. View the presentation here.
From our Blog
The History of National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV & Hepatitis Awareness Day 2019
Tackling Hepatitis B in Africa: The First Nigerian Hepatitis Summit
Where is Hepatitis Delta? High Prevalence of Hepatitis B/Delta Coinfection in Central Africa
Raising Awareness about Hepatitis B in African Immigrant Communities in the US
CHIPO Call Minutes
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