Hep Free NYC advocates with City Council Member Lynn Schulman.
More than 43 New York City Council Members, their staff, and provider and community partners attended the NYC Council Briefing on Viral Hepatitis.
Elected Officials in Attendance
- Lynn Schulman — Chair, NYC Council Health Committee, who gave opening remarks
- Tiffany Cabán — Council Member
- Carl Wilson — Council District 3 Candidate
- Staff representing Council Members Ossé, Krishnan, Lee and Maloney, and Council Speaker Menin
Presentations
Viral Hepatitis Prevention Initiative Budget Request
Robert Desrouleaux — Assistant Program Director, Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group (HCMSG)
Emceed the briefing and presented the community Viral Hepatitis Prevention Initiative budget request of $5 million for Fiscal Year 27.
History and Overview of the Prevention Initiative
Jeannine Garriga — Outreach Coordinator, HCMSG
Presented a history and overview of the NYC Council Viral Hepatitis Prevention Initiative.
Preliminary 2024 Surveillance Data
Erin Swepston, FNP, AAHIVS — Clinical Advisor and Director, Viral Hepatitis Program, NYC Health Department
Presented preliminary 2024 hepatitis B and C surveillance data for NYC, and highlighted federal actions that have presented challenges to the city’s viral hepatitis elimination efforts, including the CDC’s removal of the universal hepatitis B birth dose recommendation.
She shared the joint NYS and NYC Health Advisory and the Dear Colleague letter, which restate that in New York, recommendations to vaccinate infants within 24 hours of birth for hepatitis B remain unchanged.
Challenges in Hep B Testing, Vaccination and Treatment
Julie Yoshimachi, DNP — Director, Hepatitis B Program, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center
Explained current challenges in hepatitis B testing, vaccination, and treatment in NYC.
A Patient Story
Fatima Omarufilo — Patient Navigator, Montefiore Starfish Program
Shared the story of a patient who recently died of hepatitis-B-related liver disease.
Living with Hepatitis B
Binh Ly — Patient Advocate, Hepatitis B Foundation
Spoke about his personal experience as a patient with hepatitis B.
Barriers to Hep C Testing and Curative Treatment
Helen Adams, PA — Mount Sinai Institute for Liver Medicine
Spoke about the ongoing barriers to hepatitis C testing and curative treatment.
Going Through the Hep C Cure
Peter Rodriguez — Patient Advocate, BOOM! Health
Shared his experience as a patient going through the hepatitis C cure and the positive difference it has made in his life.
Closing Remarks
Ronni Marks — Executive Director, HCMSG
Take Action Now
Every NYC organization, health care provider, and patient affected by hepatitis B and C can support advocacy to increase funding for the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Initiative.
Contact your NYC Council Member. Call and meet with your Council Members and share information about hepatitis B and C in their Council District. Use the resources below to support your advocacy.