Assemblywoman Fiona Ma: Hepatitis B awareness is key

Approximately 1.4 million Americans are infected with Hepatitis B. More than half of the 1.4 million Americans infected are Asian/Pacific Islander Americans - I am one of them.

I contracted the disease from my mother via perinatal exposure, which is a common way Hepatitis B is transmitted. I am perfectly healthy and fine today, but Hepatitis B is something that should be monitored closely because the disease rarely shows symptoms until it is too late for treatment. This is why I feel it is extremely important for people to get screened and vaccinated.

Chronic Hepatitis B affects nearly 280,000 Californians and is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants in California. Individuals chronically infected with Hepatitis B are at a higher risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Hepatitis B-related liver cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Asian/Pacific Islander men living in California.

Talking about issues like Hepatitis B isn't particularly "sexy," but Hepatitis B is becoming more and more of a problem within the Asian American community and we need to do more about it. We need to bring the discussion to the forefront and make sure everything that can be done to promote awareness and prevention of Hepatitis B is done. A lack of awareness, coupled with cultural differences and language barriers, prevent many Asian Americans from getting screened and seeking medical attention.

Many people who contract Hepatitis B will never develop symptoms, but can still transmit the disease to others.

For the last two years, I've worked in San Francisco to make people aware of the impact of Hepatitis B in California's diverse communities. Through the Hep. B Free campaign (www.sfhepbfree.org), we've tested thousands of San Franciscans, provided vaccination and treatment information, and formed a network of groups committed to ending the disease.

In 2008, I introduced Assembly Bill 158, which required the Department of Health Care Services to apply for a federal waiver to expand Medi-Cal eligibility for individuals with chronic Hepatitis B. Unfortunately, AB 158 did not make it through the legislative process due to costs associated with the bill.

But, I plan to continue working on legislation that promotes awareness and prevention of Hepatitis B. This year, I plan to introduce a resolution declaring May 2009 as Hepatitis B Awareness Month in California. The resolution supports collaborating with all interested parties to raise awareness and educate the public health on the disease and supports developing a comprehensive, statewide Hepatitis B prevention and treatment plan.

Next year, I plan to introduce legislation that encourages Hepatitis B education for physicians. As we continue working on Hepatitis B prevention and awareness in California, there has been movement nationally.

In May 2006, U.S. Congressmen Charles Dent (R-PA) and Mike Honda (D-CA) formally recognized "National Hepatitis B Awareness Week" in Congress and May 19 is designated "World Hepatitis Day."

I hope you will join me and other organizations in supporting Hepatitis B awareness and prevention during the month of May. It is important that we all do our part to bring Hepatitis B to the forefront.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma is the majority whip at the California Assembly.