From May 7 to 11, Team HBV and Lambda Phi Epsilon Fraternity are spreading the word about Hepatitis B Awareness Week. Through tabling on Red Square and in classroom workshops, Lambdas educate their peers about the prevalence of Hep B within the API community. Viral plushie toys were sold to fundraise for Team HBV, and Lambdas enlisted numerous students on a national petition for preserving viral hepatitis funding. Students can also engage in an educational health forum that discusses current community outreach methods for Hepatitis B in Asian Americans. Speakers include the distinguished Dr. Chia Wang, Nicole Kim (APAMSA President), and Eric Sid (MS-2).
Lambdas are excited to partner with Team HBV at University of Washington to educate and spread awareness about Hepatitis B, which is the largest health disparity amongst Asian and Pacific Islanders (API). Hepatitis B can be contracted through birth, blood transfusions, and sexual contact. Sign our petition and help us meet our goal of reaching 2,000 signatures across Washington. Too busy to stop by our table in Red Square this week? You can still sign the petition at your own free time at http://www.change.org/
Considered to be the essence of heaven and earth, Jade is believed in many Asian cultures to bring good luck and longevity while deflecting negativity. Folded like the Chinese character meaning “person” or “people,” the Jade Ribbon symbolizes the united voices of those fighting hepatitis B and liver cancer worldwide.
The greatest health disparity between Asian Americans and white Americans is the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection and the high incidence of liver cancer, 80% of which is caused by chronic hepatitis B infection. Approximately 1 in 10 Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Americans have chronic hepatitis B infection compared with 1 in 1,000 of white Americans. Liver cancer rates are 9 times higher in Vietnamese Americans, 4 times higher in Korean Americans, and 4 times higher in Chinese Americans than white Americans. (Source: http://liver.stanford.edu/
News | [Press release in the UW Daily] [Tumblr Post] Photos | [Tabling on Red Square] [Community Health Forum]