New Hepatitis Project & Grant Announced

than 5 million Americans are infected with viral hepatitis,

a family of diseases with serious consequences. Hepatitis

A, the most familiar of these viruses, while not life-threatening,

can make people ill for six weeks or more, causing economic

as well as physical distress. Chronic hepatitis B and C are

life-threatening diseases, resulting in over 15,000 deaths

per year. They are the leading causes of chronic liver disease,

cirrhosis and liver cancer, and the primary reasons for seeking

liver transplants. Hepatitis C has been identified by the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an emerging

epidemic that is likely to cause up to 30,000 deaths annually

Health Information Network announces a grant from SmithKline

Beecham for hepatitis prevention education for school employees.

The grant will provide NEA HIN with support to continue to

provide NEA members and staff with workshops and in-service

trainings on hepatitis A-E, conduct research activities on

hepatitis A and B vaccinations, and help local school districts

local education associations involved with NEA HIN’s HIV/AIDS

Education Project for School Employees have integrated prevention

information on hepatitis into their AIDS in the workplace

activities. The Lansing Educational Assistants presented an

in-service training for 150 school employees in March 1998

on employee protection from bloodborne pathogens. The training

included HIV and hepatitis transmission and prevention, universal

precautions, OSHA regulations and review of school district

policy. Working in collaboration with the county health department,

the Calvert Association of Educational Support Staff presented

two in-service trainings on HIV and hepatitis B in September

offers a hepatitis information packet “Hepatitis: Are you

or your Students at Risk?” free of charge by calling 1-800-718-8387.

Digestive Health Foundation and the American Liver Foundation

announce the availability of the Better Living Grants Program,

part of their efforts to fight hepatitis through their Viral

Hepatitis Education Campaign. The purpose of the grants program

is to bring consumer information and support on hepatitis

prevention to communities. Grants will be made in two categories

— up to $150,000 will be awarded as Education/Outreach/Awareness

Grants, and the remaining $150,000 will be distributed as

are now being accepted for the Education/Outreach/Awareness

Grants. The deadline is August 1, 1998. Eligible applicants

are local non-profit organizations or government agencies,

including health and human service agencies, civic organizations,

youth groups, churches, health clinics and schools. Special

emphasis will be placed on projects that reach groups with

a high risk of hepatitis, including African Americans, Hispanics,

Asian/Pacific Islanders, current and former drug users, gay

are available from Pat Davis at the American Liver Foundation

at 1-888-4HEP-ABC, ext. 226 or via e-mail at [email protected].

They are also available on the Web at either www.gastro.org/adhf.html

or www.liverfoundation.org.