November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor and support those who care for loved ones, especially caregivers helping individuals manage hepatitis B. Their role is vital in monitoring the disease and ensuring treatment adherence, which greatly improves patient outcomes. Let’s take a moment to appreciate their dedication!

Emma, for example, cares for her husband, Paul, who had HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma). In her story here, Emma highlights the emotional challenges and emphasizes the need for caregiver self-care and advocacy. Despite the struggle, Paul’s liver regeneration after surgery offers hope, reminding medical professionals to approach patients and families with compassion and humanity.

If you're caring for someone living with hepatitis B, check out this blog about the unique challenges of caregiving and offers helpful resources for support. Let's honor caregivers this November, recognizing their crucial role in hepatitis B care.

TWiV podcast at the 2024 International HBV Meeting

At the 2024 International HBV Meeting in Chicago, TWiV hosted a fascinating conversation with hepatitis B experts Dr. Mala Maini and Dr. John Tavis, covering their careers, insights into the science around hepatitis B and the mission and work of the Hepatitis B Foundation. Founder and co-host Vincent Racaniello, known as "Earth’s Virology Professor,” lends his expertise from Columbia University to make virology accessible to all through education.

Catch this enlightening episode to learn more about HBV here.

Upcoming Webinar: Addressing the Syndemic - Opportunities for hepatitis B and integration: Insights from Nigeria and Uganda

Join us for an enlightening webinar focused on the pressing issue of hepatitis B and its integration into healthcare systems. This session will feature esteemed speakers from Nigeria and Uganda, who will share their unique perspectives and successful strategies in addressing hepatitis B in their communities. As we explore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities associated with hepatitis B, our speakers will highlight innovative approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment within the context of integrated healthcare.

B Heppy podcast: Partner spotlight, raising awareness about hepatitis B and liver cancer among Somali communities

In this episode, Anousha invited Mohamed Ali, a public health professional with the Seattle King County Health Department as well as a board member with Somali Health Board. Mohamed shared his experience working on the liver cancer disparities project and educating Somali communities in Seattle about the link between hepatitis B and liver cancer.

B Informed: Unpacking the new HBV case definitions

Please join us online for B-Informed, a hepatitis B virtual education series: "Unpacking the New HBV Case Definitions" on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 at 3 p.m. EST.

B-Informed is for anyone interested in learning more about hepatitis B - including patients, family members, community advocates, health care providers, public health professionals and community members. This session will feature the CDC and they will discuss the new CSTE hepatitis B case definitions and its impact on jurisdictions' surveillance efforts.

Featured speakers:

CHIPO Member Highlight: Africa Health Research Institute

The Coalition against Hepatitis for People of African Origin (CHIPO), led by the Hepatitis B Foundation, unites individuals and organizations focused on combating hepatitis B in African communities worldwide.

This month, CHIPO interviewed the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) in South Africa, highlighting its mission and impactful work in hepatitis B care. Read the blog here to learn more about this inspiring organization’s contributions!

Featured #BtheVoice storytellers: Philip and Father Benjamin

After witnessing their brothers’ battles with hepatitis B and eventual passing due to liver complications, both Philip and Father Benjamin, who live in Ghana, have committed to raising awareness and advocating for improved care and resources for those affected. Their experiences navigating emotional and financial strains, as well as their families’ efforts to secure proper treatment, have inspired them to become vocal advocates against hepatitis B-related mortality and to push for better support and awareness in their communities.

View Philip's story here.

View Father Benjamin's story here.

2024 Bruce Witte Lecture

You're invited to attend the Bruce Witte Lecture online: "Understanding Viral Persistence to Cure Hepatitis B Virus Infection," featuring Fabien Zoulim MD, PhD. Learn more about the Bruce Witte lecture here.

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024

4 p.m. EST

Hepatitis B ECHO Program

Project ECHO is case-based learning sessions between HBV specialists and primary care providers. The sessions, designed around case-based learning and mentorship, help local workers gain the expertise required to provide needed services. Each session includes one case discussion and a short 15-minute didactic aimed to empower providers to evaluate, monitor and treat patients with hepatitis B in the primary care setting. If you were not able to attend any of our live sessions this year, we invite you to view previously recorded ECHO sessions here.

The Hepatitis B Foundation was again selected as an Official Charity Partner of the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon. Our #Run4HepB team Aaron Rak, Ben Gulliver, Bailey Vogel, Justin Chen and Lara McCusker proudly ran yesterday (Nov. 3). Take a look at this video to learn why these individuals participated. It's not too late, please support our mission and donate here.

Survey: COVID-19 vaccine perspectives

Place consider contributing your time and experience to an important study that focuses on underrepresentation of specific populations in clinical trials for the

COVID-19 vaccine!  

• What’s the study about? We want to gain a better understanding about factors that influenced your willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and how different information sources impacted your decision to get vaccinated or not.
• Eligibility: Age 18 or older, of African, South-East Asian, Western Pacific, or Latin American origin.
• Survey details: Your responses will be anonymous and the survey takes less than 25 minutes!  

Your insights will help public health and research organizations develop effective communication strategies tailored for your community, which can help enhance inclusion and diversity in future drug development studies! 

Please share your thoughts on future hepatitis B treatment

Are you age 18 or over and living with hepatitis B and interested in sharing your thoughts on future treatment? The Hepatitis B Foundation wants to know what you think about different strategies for possible future administration of hepatitis B treatment.

Your responses to our anonymous online survey will help inform future drug development for hepatitis B. We would like as many people as possible to complete the survey!

All responses will be kept anonymous and confidential. The 20-minute survey is available in English, Tagalog, Mandarin, Spanish and Arabic. Please click one of the languages to complete the survey in the language of your choice. If you have any questions, please email Yasmin Ibrahim at Yasmin.Ibrahim@hepb.org.

Health Facility Capacity and Health-care Worker Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Hepatitis B Vaccine Birth-dose and Maternal Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine Administration in Nigeria: A Baseline Assessment

Annals of African Medicine

Oct. 23, 2024

Uba B V, Mohammed Y, Nwokoro U U, et al [Dr. Catherine Freeland of the

Hepatitis B Foundation is a co-author.]

10.4103/aam.aam_28_24 | DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_28_24

Because hepatitis B virus and neonatal tetanus infections remain endemic in Nigeria despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines, the researchers assessed health facilities’ capacity for HBV vaccine birth dose (HepB-BD) and maternal tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccination at 40 public primary and secondary health facilities in two states including a total of 158 health care workers. The study found that "the limited implementation of national policies on HepB-BD and maternal Td vaccination, coupled with knowledge gaps among health care workers, pose significant challenges to timely vaccination, necessitating interventions to address these gaps."

• Nov. 5, 2024 - CHIPO Webinar
• Nov. 20, 2024 - Bruce Witte Lecture
• April 4, 2025 - Hepatitis B Foundation Annual Gala