Published:
Hepatitis B Foundation Testifies Before Congressional Appropriation Committee and Urges More Federal Funding for Hepatitis B
DOYLESTOWN, Pa., March 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hepatitis B
Foundation President Dr. Timothy Block testified about the public health
challenge of chronic hepatitis B before the Congressional Appropriations
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services on March 13 inWashington,
DC, at the request of Honorable David Obey, chairman, Committee on
Appropriations. Dr. Block spoke about the urgent need to strengthen and
increase funding for hepatitis B programs at the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
"The recent crisis in a Nevada clinic, where 40,000 people were placed at
risk for infection with hepatitis B and C, is a problem that the CDC thinks
might just be the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. Block. "This incident
highlights critical deficiencies in our public health and research programs,
and if we don't act with urgency, more and more people will suffer."
The Foundation believes that a well-equipped CDC is our best hope to
manage the public health problem of hepatitis B. Two million chronically
infected Americans are depending upon the NIH to search for new interventions
to treat hepatitis B and liver cancer, a fatal outcome of chronic hepatitis B
and the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. today. Both the CDC and NIH have
performed admirably with the limited resources they are provided; however,
much more is needed to achieve effective, lasting solutions.
Dr. Block concluded his testimony by urging the appropriations
subcommittee to restore in FY 2009 the overall CDC budget to $7.4 billion with
a $50 million increase for the Division of Viral Hepatitis, and to provide a
6.7% increase for the NIH bringing the total to $31.2 billion, including a $40
million annual increase for hepatitis B research.
Chairman David Obey was sympathetic and commented on the importance of
restoring cuts to the NIH and CDC budget to address important health issues.
About the Hepatitis B Foundation
The Hepatitis B Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated
to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected with
hepatitis B worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. For
more information, visit www.hepb.org or call (215) 489-4900.
Contact: Leah Rice
(215) 340-0480
leah@furiarubel.com
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Dr. Timothy Block
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=66704
Joan Block
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=66707
SOURCE Hepatitis B Foundation
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
Daily NewsTags: ,BIO,IDC,MTC,HEA,NPT,LEG,POL,PA-HepatitisB-Foundtn
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