Join the Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) as we celebrate May Hepatitis Awareness Month with a variety of activities to help keep the focus on hepatitis B! Through Congressional briefings, a national media campaign, community events, student forums and more, our goal is to help make hepatitis B a national health priority in this country.

During May 7-11, 2007 – National Hepatitis B Awareness Week – HBF will take to the road and travel to New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose as part of the AIM for the B public awareness campaign, which we sponsor in partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb. This annual media campaign has developed an exciting momentum in raising “Awareness, Involvement and Mobilization” for chronic hepatitis B over the past four years. It includes press conferences, patient roundtables, and interviews to help increase understanding about hepatitis B as a serious liver disease.

We will also participate in two important briefings in Washington, D.C., that will feature hepatitis B. On May 10, a briefing will be held for congressional researchers at the Library of Congress, and on May 11, a briefing on Capitol Hill will be sponsored by Congressman Mike Honda. For updates on these events, be sure to check our website at www.hepb.org.

In addition to sponsoring events throughout the month of May, HBF continues to be actively involved in supporting efforts to re-introduce the National Hepatitis B Act, a historic bi-partisan piece of legislation that was introduced in Congress by Congressmen Charles Dent (R-PA) and Mike Honda (D-CA) in 2006. The National Hepatitis B Act called for increased federal funds to improve screening, education, and research to find a cure.

In a time of competing disease priorities and budget cuts, the HBF is committed to making sure that hepatitis B is not forgotten. Learn more about what we are doing and how you can help by visiting our website at www.hepb.org/advocacy!