Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
The International Steering Committee planning World Hepatitis Day (WHD), May 19, 2008 continues to plan for a global observance of the day. As part of this global observance, individual countries, regions, states and cities are encouraged to coordinate events in conjunction with the global theme. This email will provide some background on planning, details regarding the global strategy, and outline possible opportunities for observances at the national, state and local levels.
The World Hepatitis Day Steering Committee met at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) meeting in Boston in October to review the strategy and plan developed by the public relations firm hired to help with the observance. Fleishman Hillard has developed an interesting and dynamic strategy to raise awareness and the profile of viral hepatitis. I have attached some documents which discuss the strategy, and I ask that at this time that you not distribute these, as the strategy will involve a timeline and phased approach for rollout of the logo, documents and events.
The aim of the 2008 campaign is to achieve extensive awareness of issues surrounding hepatitis B and C across the world, in the media and among the general public and policy audiences. Governments will be asked to support five-year targets for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis and we aim to publish the beginnings of what we hope will eventually become the first ever global compendium of hepatitis B and C statistics (the Hepatitis Atlas). Events in 12 major cities and 50 countries will be preceded by a media campaign culminating on May 19th and designed to gain maximum attention. We will also be seeking World Health Organization (WHO) endorsement of World Hepatitis Day.
Please see attachment for more background information on the theme and strategy.
Theme
Am I Number 12?
(Worldwide, it is estimated that 1 in 12 people is living with either HBV and/or HCV.
International Observance
At the international level, there will be:
-outreach to global media to raise awareness of viral hepatitis
-international marketing teaser to direct individuals to campaign website
-website with statistics regarding viral hepatitis
-12 Asks to Governments (More below)
-Development of a Hepatitis Atlas which includes statistics from around the world.
-Formation of the World Hepatitis Alliance (a legal entity to coordinate the global effort)
-Development of a Public Health Panel comprised of higher level government officials to provide input
-Media events in 12 cities around the globe:
-New York City
-Johannesburg
-Rio de Janeiro
-Buenos Aires
-Cairo
-Geneva
-London
-Moscow
-New Delhi
-Beijing
-Kyoto
-Sydney
National Observances
How the campaign is utilized at the national level is up to the respective organizers at the national level. Possible opportunities include:
-Tie-in with the New York City media event. (Canada & Mexico could definitely have a spotlight city for their countries).
-Other national media events.
-12 Asks of the Government The 12 Asks to Government are a central element of the campaign aimed at setting objectives internationally for improvements in the experience of hepatitis patients. Six Asks will be uniform across the world and a further six will be country specific. Governments across the world will be asked to sign up to these Asks by 2012. The 6 universal asks are:
Public recognition of chronic viral hepatitis as an urgent public health issue
The appointment of an individual to lead Government strategy nationally
The development of a patient pathway for screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment
Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing incidence and prevalence
Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing mortality
Clear, quantifiable targets for screening
Potential National Asks could include:
Effective surveillance and publication of national incidence and prevalence statistics
Commitment to examine cases of best practice nationally
Commitment to work with patient groups in policy design and implementation
Provision of free and anonymous (or confidential) testing
A public awareness campaign that alerts people to the issue and is committed to reducing stigma
Commitment to an on-going national vaccination programme
Local Observances
It is the plan of the International Steering Committee to have a toolkit for local organizers to use to tie-in with the National and Global campaigns. While the goal of the global campaign is to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and highlight statistics throughout the world, local observances are encouraged to tailor the messaging and statistics to the local area for maximum impact among local policy makers.
Possible local initiatives:
-Letters to the Editor
-Town Hall forum on viral hepatitis in (city/county/state)
-Poster/Video/Commercial contest
-Concert
-March/Demonstration
-Interviews on Talk Shows (television and radio)
-Newspaper/magazine feature on hepatitis in (city/county/state)
-Any options local organizers determine.
As we continue to plan at the global and national levels, we look forward to continuing to keep you posted on plans and resources that will be available. I know some areas have already begun planning, which is great! In the US there is a group of national hepatitis advocates that have agreed to help coordinate the national observance (including the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR)). I know there are individuals in Canada who will be working together to coordinate a National observance as well. If you are interested in knowing who else in your area is interested in planning events, etcplease let me know and I can try to connect you.
Thank you again for your continued dedication to addressing viral hepatitis and helping to raise the profile of hepatitis locally, nationally and globally!
Please let me know if you have any questions or have thoughts about the campaign!
Chris Taylor, Viral Hepatitis Program Manager
National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors
444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 339, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 434-8041 Fax: (202) 434-8092
ctaylor@NASTAD.org www.NASTAD.org
"Bridging Science, Policy, and Public Health"
The World Hepatitis Day Steering Committee met at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) meeting in Boston in October to review the strategy and plan developed by the public relations firm hired to help with the observance. Fleishman Hillard has developed an interesting and dynamic strategy to raise awareness and the profile of viral hepatitis. I have attached some documents which discuss the strategy, and I ask that at this time that you not distribute these, as the strategy will involve a timeline and phased approach for rollout of the logo, documents and events.
The aim of the 2008 campaign is to achieve extensive awareness of issues surrounding hepatitis B and C across the world, in the media and among the general public and policy audiences. Governments will be asked to support five-year targets for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis and we aim to publish the beginnings of what we hope will eventually become the first ever global compendium of hepatitis B and C statistics (the Hepatitis Atlas). Events in 12 major cities and 50 countries will be preceded by a media campaign culminating on May 19th and designed to gain maximum attention. We will also be seeking World Health Organization (WHO) endorsement of World Hepatitis Day.
Please see attachment for more background information on the theme and strategy.
Theme
Am I Number 12?
(Worldwide, it is estimated that 1 in 12 people is living with either HBV and/or HCV.
International Observance
At the international level, there will be:
-outreach to global media to raise awareness of viral hepatitis
-international marketing teaser to direct individuals to campaign website
-website with statistics regarding viral hepatitis
-12 Asks to Governments (More below)
-Development of a Hepatitis Atlas which includes statistics from around the world.
-Formation of the World Hepatitis Alliance (a legal entity to coordinate the global effort)
-Development of a Public Health Panel comprised of higher level government officials to provide input
-Media events in 12 cities around the globe:
-New York City
-Johannesburg
-Rio de Janeiro
-Buenos Aires
-Cairo
-Geneva
-London
-Moscow
-New Delhi
-Beijing
-Kyoto
-Sydney
National Observances
How the campaign is utilized at the national level is up to the respective organizers at the national level. Possible opportunities include:
-Tie-in with the New York City media event. (Canada & Mexico could definitely have a spotlight city for their countries).
-Other national media events.
-12 Asks of the Government The 12 Asks to Government are a central element of the campaign aimed at setting objectives internationally for improvements in the experience of hepatitis patients. Six Asks will be uniform across the world and a further six will be country specific. Governments across the world will be asked to sign up to these Asks by 2012. The 6 universal asks are:
Public recognition of chronic viral hepatitis as an urgent public health issue
The appointment of an individual to lead Government strategy nationally
The development of a patient pathway for screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment
Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing incidence and prevalence
Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing mortality
Clear, quantifiable targets for screening
Potential National Asks could include:
Effective surveillance and publication of national incidence and prevalence statistics
Commitment to examine cases of best practice nationally
Commitment to work with patient groups in policy design and implementation
Provision of free and anonymous (or confidential) testing
A public awareness campaign that alerts people to the issue and is committed to reducing stigma
Commitment to an on-going national vaccination programme
Local Observances
It is the plan of the International Steering Committee to have a toolkit for local organizers to use to tie-in with the National and Global campaigns. While the goal of the global campaign is to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and highlight statistics throughout the world, local observances are encouraged to tailor the messaging and statistics to the local area for maximum impact among local policy makers.
Possible local initiatives:
-Letters to the Editor
-Town Hall forum on viral hepatitis in (city/county/state)
-Poster/Video/Commercial contest
-Concert
-March/Demonstration
-Interviews on Talk Shows (television and radio)
-Newspaper/magazine feature on hepatitis in (city/county/state)
-Any options local organizers determine.
As we continue to plan at the global and national levels, we look forward to continuing to keep you posted on plans and resources that will be available. I know some areas have already begun planning, which is great! In the US there is a group of national hepatitis advocates that have agreed to help coordinate the national observance (including the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR)). I know there are individuals in Canada who will be working together to coordinate a National observance as well. If you are interested in knowing who else in your area is interested in planning events, etcplease let me know and I can try to connect you.
Thank you again for your continued dedication to addressing viral hepatitis and helping to raise the profile of hepatitis locally, nationally and globally!
Please let me know if you have any questions or have thoughts about the campaign!
Chris Taylor, Viral Hepatitis Program Manager
National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors
444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 339, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 434-8041 Fax: (202) 434-8092
ctaylor@NASTAD.org www.NASTAD.org
"Bridging Science, Policy, and Public Health"
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