Lao American Community Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Hepatitis Education and Prevention Program (HEPP)

CHICAGO, IL APRIL 27, 2010 The Asian Health Coalition of Illinois (AHCI) in conjunction with the Intercultural Cancer Council, University of Chicago, and Northwestern University is pleased to announce a major Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, May 6, 2010 from 9:00-11:30AM. The Town Hall meeting is entitled “Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: The Silent Killers, Breaking the Silence in our Communities” and will be located at Truman College Front Lobby at 1145 West Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640.

The Town Hall Meeting will provide a forum to discuss the impact of hepatitis B, C, and liver cancer in our communities. Chronic viral hepatitis infections are 3 to 5 times more frequent than HIV in the U.S., affecting 6 million Americans - the vast majority who do not know they are infected. The Town Hall Meeting is a call to action based on a new report from the Institute of Medicine which highlights the serious lack of funding for hepatitis prevention and control and a “pervasive ignorance” of the seriousness of the problem among health care providers, public health agencies, communities at risk, and the general public. The Town Hall meeting will give us a chance to discuss barriers, solutions, and collectively begin to develop strategies to break the silence about hepatitis B and C.

Hepatitis B and C are serious global health problems that affect everyone from all walks of life. Research conducted by the Asian Health Coalition of Illinois from 2001 to 2006, revealed that chronic hepatitis B infection alone is present in 5% to 15% of Asians living in the Chicago area (with rates varying by ethnic group), which is far higher than the 1%-2% prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection in the general U.S. population. This highlights the need through the Town Hall Meeting to share and break the silence on these “silent killers.” The good news is that hepatitis B is preventable with safe and effective vaccines for children and adults, and hepatitis C is controllable through medication regiments. Early detection through screening is the key to preventing the onset of serious liver disease in those who are chronically infected with the hepatitis B and C viruses.

The Asian Health Coalition of Illinois has over ten years of experience in building collaborations among Asian American community and other grassroots communities in Chicago and metropolitan areas, working to improve health and wellness through advocacy, community-based health education, research, and program capacity building.

If you are interested in attending this Town Hall Meeting, or wish for further information, please RSVP at (312) 372-7070 or www.asianhealth.org.