Jane Pan, Executive Director/Project Facilitator of the Hepatitis B Initiative of DC (HBI-DC) distributed over 100 hepatitis b education postcards to DC taxicab drivers at Union Station in an outreach effort to help raise awareness of the threat posed to them by Hepatitis B infection. A significant number of drivers in DC come from areas, or have family origins in areas, where Hepatitis B is prevalent. The hepatitis b educational postcards have a world map identifying such areas with low to high prevalent rate. It also includes list of questions to ask each person to help determine if they may be at risk. And, just as importantly, it asks them to get tested to determine their hepatitis B status enabling them to protect themselves and their families depending on the results of the tests. This project is supported by the DC Mayor's Office of Asian and Pacific Islanders Affairs (OAPIA).
Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus that attacks the liver. The virus is transmitted through blood and infected bodily fluids. This can occur through direct blood-to-blood contact, unprotected sex, use of unsterile needles, and from an infected woman to her newborn during the delivery process.
Most people who are at risk of having the virus are unaware of their risk and therefore fail to take the necessary steps to prevent or, if necessary, treat the illness. Since it is a blood borne disease, an infected individual can spread it to others, especially family members, unless the person knows about the disease and how to manage it.
The mission of Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington, DC (HBI-DC) is to mobilize communities to prevent liver disease caused by hepatitis B among Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, African newcomers, and other high-risk groups in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Through collaborative partnerships, HBI-DC provides culturally and linguistically appropriate hepatitis B outreach, education, screening, vaccination, linkages to care, and patient navigation services for impacted communities.
Most people who are at risk of having the virus are unaware of their risk and therefore fail to take the necessary steps to prevent or, if necessary, treat the illness. Since it is a blood borne disease, an infected individual can spread it to others, especially family members, unless the person knows about the disease and how to manage it.
The mission of Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington, DC (HBI-DC) is to mobilize communities to prevent liver disease caused by hepatitis B among Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, African newcomers, and other high-risk groups in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Through collaborative partnerships, HBI-DC provides culturally and linguistically appropriate hepatitis B outreach, education, screening, vaccination, linkages to care, and patient navigation services for impacted communities.