The Prevent Cancer Foundation, COPE and HCMSG will host a Day of Action on July 25, convening local health care leaders, policy influencers and advocates to focus on strategies to reduce the high rates of hepatitis C in the Harlem community. These experts will discuss how to improve awareness of and access to screenings and treatments in Harlem to prevent the virus, and ultimately, prevent cancer. Free hepatitis C screenings will also be provided at a health fair in the afternoon.
Harlem’s community is particularly at risk for hepatitis C, and African-Americans in Harlem are at higher risk of infection. There are screenings and treatments to diagnose and cure hepatitis C, but many Harlem residents are unaware of the virus and its link to liver cancer. Education is critical because hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer.
Hep C by the numbers:
- New York State has the third highest hepatitis C rate in the U.S.
- 146,500 people in New York City are living with hepatitis C.i
- The number of hepatitis C-related deaths in New York City increased by 46 percent from 1999 to 2013.
- In 2014, East Harlem had one of the highest rates of newly reported chronic hepatitis C infection of all New York City neighborhoods.iii
- Hepatitis C infection is more common among African-Americans, who make up 62 percent of Central Harlem North’s population, 58 percent of Central Harlem South’s population, 35 percent of East Harlem North’s population, 24 percent of East Harlem South’s population, 26 percent of New York City’s population, and 18 percent of New York State’s population.
- New York State reports an average of 1,919 new liver cancer cases per year.
To Continue: http://harlemworldmag.com/harlem-day-of-action-to-address-high-rate-of-hep-c-in-ny/