Hepatitis C is unconscionably under-funded and
this deplorable state of affairs demands an immediate remedy!!!
Lets look at some facts:
In the USA alone 4.5 million are infected with Hepatitis
C, with 700 thousand with HIV. There are
230,000 diagnosed annually with the Hepatitis C virus -40,000
diagnosed annually with HIV.
Numbers who will die world wide!! 80 million from Hepatitis
C, 20 million from HIV. BUT
YET A $10 BILLION budget for HIV/AIDS programs
in 1999 while the current year's budget is $30.4
million for Hepatitis C programs. This averages
out at 3,289 times more funding for HIV/AIDS than Hepatitis
C.
The National Institute of Health budget allocates $169
million for Arthritis AND
YET 30.4 MILLION FOR HEPATITIS C . the cost of
treating HVC far outweighs the costs of treating diabetes.
Children are affected by HCV virus.
COME ON!
In a speech before the United Nations on January 10, 2000,
Vice President Al Gore announced. "that the Administration's
Fiscal year 2001 budget (will) include a new $150
million investment to assist efforts to combat the
international AIDS. " This addition
brings the total to 342 million annually spent by the USA
on HIV prevention and AIDS treatment around the world. AND
YET 30.4 MILLION FOR HEPATITIS C. A lopsided
picture? Yes it is and it is alarming as 70% are as
of yet undiagnosed for HCV.
Representative Sherrod Brown from Ohio on January 12, 2000,
announced a, "proposal to invest 100 million in international TB control programs next year." He
went on to say, "In this time of expanding global commerce
and increasing over-sea's tourism, we are at greater risk
than ever for contracting and spreading tuberculosis. TB is
a killer that knows no national boundaries, and we are all
at risk until TB is controlled-everywhere. It's
simply common sense to invest in international prevention
and treatment." Folks this is me talking now, could not the
same be said for Hepatitis C!!! AND YET ONLY $30.4 MILLION FOR HEPATITIS C?
According to a report released under the title "The Death
Toll is Rising" in the paper the US News, Surgeon General
Satcher stated that health care for Hepatitis C cost's more
than 600 million annually. AND YET 30.4 MILLION FOR HEPATITIS C ?
HIV Vaccine Awareness Day of May 18,
2000 reports
28 different experimental vaccines to prevent HIV.
NOT ONE FOR HEPATITIS C. WE NEED FUNDING!
Chicago, 10 November 1998, The American Association for
the study of Liver Disease's announced, "By 2008, current
case's of chronic Hepatitis C would result in a 61% increase
of cirrhosis, a 279% increase in patients with severe circulatory
problems, a 68% increase in chronic Hepatitis C, a 528% increase
in the need for liver transplants, and a 223% increase in
liver related death's." There are currently 10,000 on the
transplant list for 'new ' livers, yet only 4,000 organs available.
AND YET $30.4 MILLION FOR HEPATITIS
C ?
In former surgeon general C. Everett Koop's congressional
testimony in 1998, he stated, "We need a coordinated federal
effort that reaches across the relevant agencies and identifies
activities that can be significant in training physicians,
raising public awareness, and seeking out target populations
for screening and treatment." He further stated, "I believe
we have a 5-year window to identify
and treat a significant proportion on the infected population
if we are to head off the huge increase of liver disease I
believe is ahead."
FOLKS THE CLOCK IS TICKING!!!!
This article was writen by Mr. Bob Meyers and is sent through
Frontline Hepatitis Awareness. We at Frontline Hepatitis
and Mr. Meyers in no way wish to cast as less serious the
other diseases mentioned. We only to use them as a reference
to show the serious under-funding for HCV.
Frontline Hepatitits is a National Non-Profit with state chairs.
We strive to raise awareness about this Hepatitis C or HCV
situation in all ways possible. We set up support groups
for others with the virus and the newly diagnosed, we host
symposiums and National rallies to raise attention to this
health situation, we go into the streets to reach those who
are the "forgotten" members of society who are very ill and
thus need to be taught harm reduction, we go into the Correctional
setting where possible. Please read and respond to this
by initiating legislation for the increased funding
of this volatile situation which involves so many of us in
the United States and Globally. The Veterans monies
allocated needs to be getting where it is needed right now,
not tied up in the bureaucratic entanglement. Thank
you for reading this and more important please get moving
on this health issue NOW, not LATER
please.
Ane K. Palmo
Frontline
Hepatitis Founder
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