South Asian Hepatitis Initiative
Viral hepatitis is very common in South Asia and among people of South Asian origin living in the U.S. New York City is home to a large and diverse South Asian communities.
According to the World Health Organization, in the South East Asia Region, more than 100 million people are living with Hepatitis B (Hep B) and more than 30 million people are living with Hepatitis C (Hep C). Hep B accounts for 300,000 deaths every year and Hep C with 120,000 deaths every year in the South East Asia Region.
South Asian Hepatitis Initiative (SAHI)
Objectives:
- To raise awareness about hep B and hep C among South Asian-born and diaspora populations
- To provide screening, immunization, referral services for hep B, hep C and liver disease in South Asian-born and diaspora populations
- To build community and provider partnerships for hep B and hep C prevention for South Asian-born and diaspora populations
- To identify and reduce cultural and language barriers to immunization, screening, and treatment for hep B, hep C and liver disease
Resources:
- Report | Health of Asians and Pacific Islanders in New York City. NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, 2021
- Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination | Hepatitis-related deaths and prevalence by country
- Article | Meeting Individuals Where They Are: A Conversation on Breaking Down Barriers to HCV Screening and Care for London’s Pakistani Community. Clinical Care Options, 2021
- Article | Improving uptake of hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing in South Asian migrants in community and faith settings using educational interventions—A prospective descriptive study. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2020
- Article | Let’s Talk About B: Barriers to Hepatitis B Screening and Vaccination Among Asian and South Asian Immigrants in British Columbia. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 2018
- Article | How the CIA’s fake Hepatitis B vaccine program in Pakistan helped fuel vaccine distrust. Vox, 2021
- For Hep-related public education materials, click here.
South Asian Hep Initiative Materials
Find Free/Low cost
Testing & Care Near You
Hep B: visit nyc.gov/health/hepb or call 311 and say, “Hepatitis B”
Hep C: visit nyc.gov/health/hepc or call 311 and say, “Hepatitis C”
