Coalition against Hepatitis in People of African Origin (CHIPO)
CHIPO-NYC is a coalition of organizations and individuals working to address the high rates of hepatitis B and C infection among African communities in New York City.
Viral hepatitis is highly endemic in many parts of Africa — defined by the CDC as a prevalence of 8% to 20% — and rates among Africans living in the United States are similar to rates on the continent. New York City is home to a large African-born population, but public health awareness of the burden of disease in this community remains limited.
Our goal is to bring together NYC organizations, service providers and advocates dedicated to ending hepatitis B and C in African communities throughout the city.
Our Objectives
- Build community and provider partnerships for prevention.
- Raise awareness about hepatitis among African-born populations.
- Provide screening, immunization and referral services for African immigrants and refugees.
- Increase hepatitis B screening and immunization rates among African immigrants at higher risk.
- Identify and reduce cultural and language barriers to immunization, screening and treatment for liver disease.
Find Testing & Care
A list of hepatitis testing, vaccination and treatment sites offering free and low-cost care for hepatitis B and C across New York City.
Testing & Vaccination
African Services Committee
Free hepatitis B and C testing and hepatitis B vaccination for people at risk. Patients who test positive are linked to medical care.
- Contact
- Halimatou Konte, Testing Center Coordinator
- halimatouk@africanservices.org
- Phone
- (212) 222-3882 ext. 2118
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
- Website
- africanservices.org
African Services Committee is part of the Check Hep B Patient Navigation program. Learn more about Check Hep B.
Education Resources
Hepatitis B Foundation — Awareness and Education Materials for the African Community
- A presentation for community health workers and physicians covering hepatitis B basics, with guidance on dispelling common myths during education sessions.
- A flipchart for direct community education.
- Fact sheets and resource sheets.
- African immigrant #justB patient storyteller videos.
HBV Africa App
Developed by the African Network for Hepatitis B Awareness and Education, the HBV Africa app covers hepatitis B basics, clinical manifestations, how to approach patients with hepatitis B, and how to teach your community about the virus.
Get Involved Nationally
Join the bi-monthly call of the national Coalition against Hepatitis in People of African Origin (CHIPO) — an opportunity to connect with leaders across the country working to address hepatitis B in African communities.
To join, contact Chari Cohen at chari.cohen@hepb.org.