CDPH announces $3 million state grants to Asian organizations to combat hepatitis B

(SAN FRANCISCO) While Asian healthcare professionals declared May 2024 as National Hepatitis Awareness Month, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced more than $3 million state grants that have been awarded to Asian health organizations in San Francisco for the Hepatitis B Demonstration Project.

The Asian organizations which are on the list to receive the Hepatitis B Demonstration Project grants are North East Medical Services, Chinese Hospital, SF Hep B Free Bay Area, and San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

“This funding will enable these organizations to utilize innovative, evidence-informed approaches aligned with California's goal to serve the most vulnerable and underserved people in California living with or at risk for hepatitis B infection," CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomas Aragon said and announced the state grants at a press conference held at the San Francisco City Hall on April 30.

"The project is also in line with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan – calling for the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030,” Dr. Aragon added.

Hepatitis B is known to disproportionately impact Asians, Pacific Islanders and African Americans. California carries the highest burden of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis-B related liver cancer

across the country. An estimated 88% of adults living with chronic hepatitis B are Asians or Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in California. In the San Francisco Bay Area, 1.78% of San Franciscans are tested positive for hepatitis B.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, the number of deaths due to viral hepatitis infections has been increasing steadily. Viral hepatitis has become the second leading infectious cause of death worldwide. An estimated 81,000 Bay Area residents are infected with chronic hepatitis B, but most of them are not aware of their infection.

According to the CDC, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and people born in Africa are at increased risk for hepatitis B, and people of color make up a disproportionately high share of hepatitis C in the United States.

Supervisor Joel Engardio who represents Sunset District also announced in the press conference that he had introduced a resolution to declare May 2024 as National Hepatitis Awareness Month to combat hepatitis B. "San Francisco must make hepatitis B awareness a public health priority," said Engardio.

“My late boyfriend Mark Lim died in 2001 from liver cancer caused by chronic hepatitis B,” Engardio shared his personal story related to hepatitis B infection.

With the state grant, Chinese Hospital would support innovative approaches to improve the health of patients affected by hepatitis B over the next three years. “For over 25 years, the Chinese Hospital has been at the forefront of the fight against hepatitis B by providing essential services such as vaccinations, screenings, treatments, linkage of care, and education," said Dr. Jian Zhang, CEO of Chinese Hospital.

"With decades of experience in delivering culturally competent and linguistically appropriate healthcare, we focus on reducing the prevalence of hepatitis B through innovative approaches and extending essential healthcare access to those most in need,” said Dr. Zhang.

NEMS is another Asian health organization to receive the state grant. NEMS has adopted an approach to screen all adult patients, vaccinate all who are screened susceptible, and monitor all with chronic hepatitis B every six months for routine labs and abdominal imaging.

Alongside SF Hep B Free Bay Area, NEMS plans to reach out at least 20,000 persons who may be infected with hepatitis B but are not aware of their diagnosis. “NEMS is committed to eliminating hepatitis B as a major health disparity in the Asian American community,” said Dr. Amy Tang, Director of Immigrant Health of NEMS.