Dr. Chari A. Cohen, President, Hepatitis B Foundation
Rep. Mike Quigley leads the hassle asking for inclusion of people residing with well-managed hepatitis B and HIV within the military.
— Hepatitis B Foundation President Chari A. Cohen, DrPH, MPH
DOYLESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES, September 8, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Hepatitis B Foundation, which has lengthy fought towards discrimination of individuals residing with hepatitis B, strongly supports a brand new effort to allow people with hepatitis B or HIV to serve within the U.S. military.
A letter to President Biden signed by 31 members of the U.S. House requires the Department of Defense to replace their insurance policies and personnel administration directions to mirror essentially the most present scientific tips for HIV and hepatitis B administration and remedy. An an identical letter is being despatched to President Biden by a bunch of U.S. Senators, led by Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware and Sen. Kristen Gillibrand of New York. These letters mark a brand new effort to battle this unfair policy and are a major step ahead in combating discrimination.
The House letter, which is downloadable right here, was led by Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-05), vice-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, together with Reps. Sara Jacobs (CA-53) and Barbara Lee (CA-13). Rep. Quigley’s workplace issued a press launch, posted right here.
The Members of Congress level out that folks residing with HBV or HIV can handle their situation with as little as one tablet a day and may lead very full, lengthy lives. Particularly given the advances in drugs for each hepatitis B and HIV, these viruses don’t in and of themselves make an individual much less in a position to serve, and the chance of battlefield transmission is close to zero. There is not any believable argument, specialists say, to deny these people the power to serve their nation.
Hepatitis B Foundation President Chari A. Cohen, DrPH, MPH, mentioned: “Scientific evidence shows that people living with hepatitis B do not pose a risk to others, and that hepatitis B does not impact the ability of military students and personnel to serve. By failing to align its current policies with recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense has created an inequitable environment where people living with hepatitis B and HIV are vulnerable to being discharged unnecessarily. We urge President Biden to take swift action to ensure that all who wish to serve in the military can do so unimpeded.”
The Foundation has lengthy fought towards hepatitis B discrimination. In a landmark achievement, the Foundation’s advocacy efforts contributed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2013 that made hepatitis B a protected situation below the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Currently, the Foundation operates a first-of-its-kind Discrimination Registry to doc hepatitis B-related discrimination, supply help, and develop a plan to battle discrimination globally.
About Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is the most typical critical liver an infection on the earth. It is brought on by the hepatitis B virus that assaults and injures the liver. Each 12 months up to 1 million folks die from hepatitis B worldwide, despite the fact that it’s preventable and treatable. Hepatitis B is a “silent epidemic” as a result of most individuals wouldn’t have signs when they’re newly or chronically contaminated. Thus, they will unknowingly infect others and proceed the unfold of hepatitis B. For people who find themselves chronically contaminated however don’t have any signs, their livers are nonetheless being silently broken, which may grow to be critical liver illness akin to cirrhosis or liver most cancers.
About the Hepatitis B Foundation: We are the nation’s main nonprofit group solely devoted to discovering a remedy for hepatitis B and enhancing the standard of life for these affected worldwide via analysis, schooling and affected person advocacy. Founded in 1991, the Hepatitis B Foundation relies in Doylestown, Pa., with workplaces in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. To study extra, go to www.hepb.org, learn our weblog at hepb.org/weblog, observe us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@hepbfoundation) or name us at 215-489-4900. To donate, contact Jean Holmes at 215-489-4900 or [email protected].
Edward Tate
Hepatitis B Foundation
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