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(posted April 12, 2007)
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From Glenn Backes, MSW, MPH:
URGENT APPEAL TO FAX SUPPORT LETTER FOR HEPATITIS B PREVENTION BILL BEING HEARD IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK--FAX LETTER TO Assembly Health Committee (916) 319-2197
CUT, PASTE AND EDIT FROM BELOW: ____________________
April 10, 2007
Honorable Mervyn Dymally
Chair Assembly Health Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, California
Dear Chairman Mervyn Dymally,
RE: SUPPORT FOR AB 158 (Ma) HEPATITIS PREVENTION
Our organization [DESCRIBE YOUR ORG], is in strong support of AB 158 by
Assembly Member Fiona Ma, to address the spread of Hepatitis B in
California. Our organization is one of many struggling to help address
the spread of viral hepatitis in our communities, with little or no
support from state or local government. We believe that AB 158 is a
small, but vital step forward in developing a comprehensive response to
the threat of liver cancer and hepatitis in our state.
Of the approximately 1.4 million Americans who are infected with
Hepatitis B, more than half are Asian/Pacific Islander Americans.
Persons chronically infected with HBV are at a higher risk of
developing cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. In the Asian/Pacific
Islander community, Chinese Americans have a three to four times higher
risk for liver cancer caused by HBV than Caucasian Americans and
Vietnamese Americans have a seven to eight times higher risk for liver
cancer caused by HBV. HBV related liver cancer is the leading cause of
cancer death among Asian/Pacific Islander men living in California.
HBV is highly infectious. The virus can be transmitted from mother to
newborn at birth, through unprotected sex, or through injections
contaminated by infected blood. The high number of Americans,
specifically Asian/Pacific Islander Americans, infected with HBV may be
attributed to a lack of appropriate health education and awareness in
our communities. The non-profit community organizations that do much of
the HBV health education and treatment in high risk communities need
support from state and local government.
For these reasons, among others, we urge your 'Aye' vote for AB 158. We
hope that this bill is just a first step toward California developing a
comprehensive plan to prevent, control and treat viral hepatitis and
liver cancer in our state.
Sincerely,
(your name, title, organization, contact information)
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