DAP Health marks World Hepatitis Day with hepatitis C forum

By Robert Hopwood, DAP Health

World Hepatitis Day 2021 on Wednesday, July 28, was an opportunity for health care providers, activists, patients and their loved ones to increase awareness of a disease that kills more than one million people a year.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and hepatocellular cancer, according to the World Health Organization. There are five main strains of the virus — A, B, C, D and E. The most common are hepatitis B and C, which result in 1.1 million deaths and 3 million new infections per year.

Health officials have set the goal of eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, according to the WHO. The theme of this year’s World Hepatitis Day underscores the urgency to eradicate the disease, “Hepatitis Can’t Wait.”

More: Hepatitis Care at DAP Health

DAP Health sponsored our third hepatitis C forum Wednesday for Coachella Valley recovery centers and partners. Speakers included C.J. Tobe, director of Community Health and Sexual Wellness Services at DAP Health; Jose De La Cruz, DAP Community Health educator; Dr. Shubha Kerkar, director of Infectious Diseases at DAP Health; Guillermo Ramos, Community Health Early Intervention manager at DAP Health; Andy Ansell, PrEP program manager at DAP Health; Michael Smith from the Ranch Recovery Center; and Liz Chavez Hacienda Valdez from the Ranch Recovery Center.

For hepatitis C resources, testing and care, contact DAP Health at (760) 323-2118.