Don’t Let Hepatitis B Win Campaign Clinician Honor Roll By Matt Johnson

Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) is alarmingly common among many ethnic groups, particularly Asian, Pacific Islander and African clients and patients. A simple blood test can easily identify these individuals. Due to the asymptomatic nature of chronic hepatitis B contracted early in life, many individuals are unaware of their HBV status. Without access to the treatments that effectively manage chronic HBV infection they remain at risk for cirrhosis and liver cancer. The “Illinois Don’t Let Hepatitis B Win Campaign” was launched in the fall of 2012 as the first grassroots community initiative to target foreign-born Asian and Africans, and pushes Illinois to the forefront in the Midwest in the fight against hepatitis B. Funded through a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health and led by the Asian Health Coalition, this campaign is a diverse public and private collaboration unifies the Asian and African immigrant and refugee communities in Illinois along with health care systems, policymakers, and general public to increase Hepatitis B education and awareness, screening, vaccination and treatment opportunities. A goal of the “Don’t Let Hepatitis B Win Campaign” is to make hepatitis B screening a standard of care for susceptible populations, within the primary care setting, and among other physicians such obstetricians and gynecologists with responsibilities under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention national recommendations. cdc.gov/MMWR MMWR 2008; 57 (RR-8) The Clinician Honor Roll includes any clinician who has completed and returned a pledge to screen patients at risk for HBV infections in accordance with CDC guidelines. The “Don’t Let Hepatitis B Win Campaign” Honor Roll will be widely publicized among peers, patients, and the general public on a regular basis in publications, mainstream news outlets, digital media, and ethnic media. If you have questions you may email Asian Health Coalitions Hepatitis Program Manager at matt@asianhealth.org.

Just a few facts:
• Liver cancer is the greatest health disparity between Asian Pacific Islander and Caucasians.
• Illinois has the 5th largest Asian population in the Nation and the largest in the Midwest.
• API men are 4 times more likely to die from liver cancer than Caucasian men.
• The hepatitis B vaccine is covered by most insurance policies.
• CDC recommends that anyone who wishes to be protected from HBV be vaccinated.