South Asian Hep Initiative Meeting Highlights | 10-05-22

Hep Free NYC South Asian Hep Initiative Meeting Highlights

10-5-22 (12 – 1 PM) via Zoom

In attendance: See below

Presentations

FY24 Viral Hepatitis Funding through NYC City Council Viral Hepatitis Initiative

Meg Chappell, Program Manager, Empire Liver Foundation – megchappell@empireliverfoundation.org

• View the presentation here.
• Hep B and C New York City Council Funding: How to Apply and Advocate Series starting November 9 @ 3 PM. Registration Required.
• Since 2014, NYC City Council funded 37 organizations to help people at risk overcome barriers to hepatitis B and C testing, care, treatment, and to provide clinical and non-clinical education.
• Funding can be used to support the salary of a community outreach worker/educator, patient navigator to screen and link patients to care, develop and translate educational materials, conduct Hep B screening in at-risk communities, and link people to care.
• Organizations can also use funding to extend hours or to cover the salaries of current staff to do Hep B and/or C work.
• How to apply for FY 24 funding:
  • Advocacy Season Schedule. Mark your calendar!
    • Intro to City Council Funding for Viral Hep Training
      • November 9, 2022 (3 – 5 PM)
    • City Council Application: How to Apply Training
      • December 5, 2022 (3 – 5 PM)
      • January 11, 2023 (3 – 5 PM)
    • FY 2024 Application opens January 2023
    • Office Hours – January – February 2023
      • To assist organizations with completing their VHI application
    • VHI Training – Preparing Testimony & Calling Council Members
      • March TBD
• Viral Hepatitis Advocacy Leadership Team:
• Check Hep C Leads: Suzanne Robinson Davis (Sdavis@bsfhc.org); Kenia Liriano (Kenia.Liriano@chasiny.org)
• Check Hep B Lead: Paul Lee (plee@kcsny.org)
• Hep C Peer Lead: Jose Martinez (martinez@harmreduction.org)
• Training Leads: Joy Cambe (joycambe@empireliverfoundation.org): Mike Selick (selick@harmreduction.org)
• Advocacy Lead: Meg Chappell (megchappell@empireliverfoundation.org)
  • Learn more about the NYC Council Viral Hepatitis Initiative
• Learn more about the NYC Council Viral Hepatitis Initiative
• Join Hep Free NYC Advocacy Listserv

Accomplishments and Lessons Learned from Conducting Testing in the South Asian Community

Okhyun Ko, Program Manager, Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York (KCS) – oko@kcsny.org

• View the presentation here.
• KCS was awarded the Hep B United Mini-Grant in 2021. Their goal was to partner with South Asian organizations to provide Hep B education and testing in New York City.
• Over the course of 2021, KCS partnered with the South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS), the Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society, and the Hindu Temple Society of North America to conduct Hep B education and testing in the South Asian Community of New York City.
• KCS conducted four screening events. A total of 58 individuals were tested for Hep B and 3.4% (2 individuals) tested positive for Hep B.
• KCS found that many people did not have Hep B awareness or education. KCS is in the process of reaching out to all patients about their results and providing education.
• Going forward, they hope having discussions with faith leaders to organize outreach events for Hep B education and testing for South Asian diaspora-based groups will be another way to conduct outreach and testing.

In attendance:

1. Ayele Kessouagni, CUNY Intern/Consultant, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, akessouagni@health.nyc.gov
2. Dipan Ray, Director of Practice Experience, Touro College of Pharmacy, dipan.ray@touro.edu
3. Guillermo Torres, Physician, Hospital San Cristobal, gtguillermo36@gmail.com
4. Holly Wang, Patient Navigator, Korean Community Services, ywang@kcsny.org
5. Jagjit Kaur, United Sikhs, jagjit.kaur@unitedsikhs.org
6. John J. Spellman, Executive Therapeutic Specialist, Gilead Science, john.spellman4@gilead.com
7. Marie Bresnahan, Project INSPIRE Program Director, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, mbresnahan@health.nyc.gov
8. Meg Chappell, Program Manager, Empire Liver Foundation, megchappell@empireliverfoundation.org
9. Okhyun Ko, Manager, Korean Community Services, oko@kcsny.org
10. Pruthvi Patel, Doctor, Mount Sinai Health System, pruthvi.patel@mountsinai.org
11. Rehan Mehmood, South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS), Director: Health Services, rehan@sacssny.org
12. Sarah Ahmed, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, sahmed10@health.nyc.gov
13. Umaima Khatun, Program Manager, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ukhatun@health.nyc.gov

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Last Updated on April 25, 2023 by HepFree NYC