Each chapter will be encouraged to participate in at least one of the following areas.
We are promoting education of 1) the community through dissemination of Hepatitis B information and 2) education of our medical school communities through on campus programming.
- Media Awareness Initiatives: We hope to assist HepB.TV with the promotion of their messages to our medical school communities.
- Medical School Hepatitis B programming: The standard curriculum for Hepatitis B in most medical schools is far from adequate. Most alarming, is the absence of education on Hepatitis B in Asian Americans. Our local chapters are encouraged to organize lectures, in association with faculty mentors at their medical schools, to supplement the standard curriculum so that collectively we can promote Hepatitis B awareness among the future physicians of America.
- Community Education: We are encouraging our members to organize HepB awareness and education events in their local communities, China town clinics, Asian churches, supermarkets, schools…etc.
Approximately 1:4 chronic carriers may develop liver cancer. Vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent hepatitis B. For those who are already infected, regular monitoring will identify those who may benefit from antiviral treatment. Cancer surveillance may also detect liver cancers at an early stage where treatment can be provided. For chapters which have the appropriate resources and plans for follow up, you are encouraged to conduct screenings, immunization referrals, and patient education. For screenings, we have identified several community organizations and community health centers that are eager to work with us. We are emphasizing that screenings are FUTILE without appropriate follow up mechanisms to get people vaccinated or followed in primary or specialty care clinics.
HEPATITIS B IS A GLOBAL ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE PROBLEM!
The greatest weakness of screening programs today is the lack of appropriate referral services for follow-up care, particularly for the uninsured. Chapters which participate in screening programs are being asked to compile information in their local areas regarding places to get HepB vaccinations, screenings, referrals, and languages services for both the insured and uninsured. Chapters which aren’t able to participate in screenings are also encouraged to help research local HepB resources in their areas. The end product will be an online national directory of HepB services organized by city and state, available for the public to use. |
