Find a copy of the itinerary at this url:
http://www.debbullan.org/HepatitisSummitAgenda8_27_09.pdf
Debbullan Director Dawn Webb attended today, Friday September 11, 2009
Taking time to remember the victims of 9/11
Welcome to Debbullan's live audit of the National Summit on Viral Hepatitis in Washington DC. For live updates...
About 300 people are in attendance of National Summit on Viral Hepatitis in Washington DC.
First Speaker John G. Bartlett, MD, a man of a passion for bringing positive awareness of Hep C to the mass public
What Have We Learned from HIV and how do we apply it to HCV? HCV must become general medicine to gain increased funding
consensus: the need for improved therapy is enormous.
Therapy must be Radicated without Ribavirin
More quotes from Summit: Vast room for improvement on current treatment
One goal is to transform treatment response. To improve Sustained Viral Response in order to reduce HCV related morbidity
Dr. Jacobson acknowledges Ribavirin is a horrible treatment
Risk stratification is key to future treatment outcomes
HCV = accelerated mortality. After SVR is HCV related cancer possible? Yes
Comorbidity host factors may affect hcv progression and treatment outcomes
Bring HCV facts to light. HCV causes other diseases, heart disease, liver disease and more. More Public knowledge needed
WE MUST "ALL SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO FAIL"
The microbe is nothing the terrain is everything
HCV + Alcohol = DEATH. Everything must be done to drive this point home.
Peg IFN + Ribavirin does not cure most with HIV + HCV
Diff HIV = W/out treatment infected will die. HCV = a percentage of infected will die of a reason other than HCV
Push for HCV specific technical research center.
NIH rep, Dr. Doo cannot separate current spending percentages of HIV vs HCV
Discussions at the National Hepatitis Summit in Washington DC turns toward people below the poverty line
Hep C also named "the disease of the disenfranchised" Cycle of invisibility cause inadequate surveillance/screening
Focus needed on Prevention, Intervention, Outreach, Testing, Counseling, Needle Access and Substance use treatment
Under poverty level population: 37.3 mill (13.3 mill = children) Ths population shows 9.1 fold increase of HCV infection
Discussions continue at the National Hepatitis Summit in Washington DC segments focus on people below the poverty line
68 million now on Medicaid. Est of 74 million in 2019. There is no pathway for coverage for HCV victims except by waiver
Medicaid an avenue of primary drive of future federal spending. Early coverage [treatment] reduces transplants and death
Question raised: Why not treat HCV incarcerated? Population largely infected not treated & released to main population
National Hepatitis Summit in Washington DC call for better surveillance of hidden populations ie homeless & incarcerated
Call to expand Ryan White Care Act to include people with Hepatitis C
In conclusion focus must be given to preparing each Community for prevention.
Launch a public awareness campaign
Effective/Proven intervention methods = Build local organizations/ Engage diverse communities/ Build prevent expertise
Medical Professionals National Summit on Viral Hepatitis in Washington DC. also calls for expanded testing for Hepatitis
Final official comment from Nat'l Summit on Viral Hepatitis in Washington DC. Health REFORM must happen
Info will be repeated on a one / sheet at Debbullan's Facebook Page Come by become a Fan for updates of all focus topics
Debbullan has launched an awareness campaign that is now active on 4 world continents visit www.SIGN4C.INFO join in its easy.
Great thanks to all participants of National Summit on Viral Hepatitis in Washington DC. & to all of you too for caring
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BONUS info for friends and Fans of Facebook and visitors to our blog page
Topic from the Summit:
Barriers to HCV care:
Provider Barriers: Knowledge / Skill / Attitudes
Systems Barriers: Capacity Across Interdisciplinary Team / Funding / Access to Biopsy
Patient Barrier: Knowledge / Access / Comorbidity / Fear
Therapy Barrier: Side Effects / Cure Rate
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Check back for additional announcement for a special Sign 4 C moment. We are very grateful attendees at the Summit participated.
