The Asian American Hepatitis B Program (AAHBP) is a community-based public health initiative supported by the New York City Council. This generous grant is a city-wide effort dedicated to reducing the burden of hepatitis B (HBV) infection in the Asian Pacific Islanders (API) community by increasing patient awareness through outreach and education, conducting no cost mass screenings, and providing vaccination, follow-up care and treatment services if necessary at no or lost cost. Collaborating partners include the New York University School of Medicine Center for the Study of Asian American Health of the Institute for Urban and Global Health, Bellevue Hospital Center, Gouverneur Healthcare Services, NYU Downtown Hospital, Community Healthcare Network, Chinese and Korean Units of the American Cancer Society, Korean Community Services, and of course, the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center.
Hepatitis B is the most common cause for liver infection. If left untreated, HBV may develop into other serious diseases such as liver cancer and cirrhosis. According to the NYC DOH, approximately half of the 1.2 million Americans who suffer from chronic HBV are Asian Pacific Islanders (API). Compared to a 1% HBV infection rate in the general population, HBV infection is as high as 20% among APIs, both nationally and locally. As Asians continue to immigrate to the United States, the incidence of hepatitis B continues to rise, particularly in metropolitan areas where dense pockets of APIs reside.
Since January 1st 2005, the health center has already held five community events, three in Chinatown and two in Flushing, through which nearly 400 patients were screened for HBV. Of those who were screened, 81 individuals have already been given their first dose of the three vaccine series and 8 have been referred for specialty care and treatment at Bellevue Hospital Center. The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center has furthermore demonstrated leadership and initiative by contributing marketing, educational and technical assistance to the program and lending itself as a model for the collaborating partners. In the months to come, the AAHBP and the health center plans to continue to actively combat this long standing health disparity facing APIs in the New York metropolitan area.
|
|