09-R212
2009 -- H 6176
Enacted 05/05/09
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING THE
MONTH OF MAY, 2009 AS "VIRAL HEPATITIS AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE
OF
Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, and Azzinaro
Date Introduced: May 05, 2009
WHEREAS, Citizens of
Rhode Island value their health and seek a climate in which all
Rhode Islanders will have the opportunity to live a
safe and healthy life. Rhode Islanders are
proud to support observances that raise the awareness of
public health issues, such as viral
hepatitis; and
WHEREAS, According to
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and the Rhode
Island Department of Health, it is estimated that more
than 3,500 Rhode Islanders are infected
with the Hepatitis B Virus and more than 18,000 Rhode
Islanders are infected with the Hepatitis
C Virus; and
WHEREAS, Eighty to
eighty-five percent of those infected with Hepatitis C, and ten to
fifteen percent with Hepatitis B will develop a chronic
infection, and an estimated 15,000 Rhode
Islanders will develop chronic liver disease; and
WHEREAS, Viral Hepatitis
is typically asymptomatic, and therefore infected
individuals
may unknowingly transmit the virus to others; and
WHEREAS, Persons
infected with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C may not learn of their
infection until 10 to 30 years later when complications arise
from chronic viral hepatitis; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C
infection is the largest single cause of liver transplantation and
one of the principal causes of liver cancer and
cirrhosis; and
WHEREAS, Chronic
Hepatitis C infection is the most common indication for liver
transplantation in the
WHEREAS, The regional cost of a liver transplant currently averages
about $350,000 for
the immediate hospital and doctor expenses, indicating
that HCV prevention, testing and
treatment should be considered as cost-effective public policies;
and
WHEREAS, There are now more than 20,000 people in the
transplant, but there are currently only about 4,900 livers
available each year; and
WHEREAS, All Viral Hepatitides (A, B, & C) are preventable through
education or
immunization; and
WHEREAS, Vaccinations
exist for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, and there is a need to
promote immunizations, especially for those who are infected
with other hepatitis viruses; and
WHEREAS, No vaccine
exists for Hepatitis C, and treatments have limited success,
making this infection among the most costly diseases in
terms of health care costs, lost wages,
and reduced productivity; and
WHEREAS, Early diagnosis can lead to the possibility of preventing
further transmission
of viral hepatitis; and
WHEREAS, Prevention
education and other preventive measures, such as vaccination,
can lead to the prevention of viral hepatitis; now,
therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of
Providence Plantations
hereby proclaims the month of May, 2009 as “Viral Hepatitis Awareness
Month” in the State of
RESOLVED,
That this House hereby supports efforts to raise
public awareness about the
need for increased funding for prevention education and
immunization for Hepatitis A and B, and
increased research on viral hepatitis; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this House hereby applauds community
organizations and health care
providers for their role in promoting awareness about viral hepatitis
and the importance of early
detection, prevention education, other preventive measures
(such as vaccination), and ongoing
screening.
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LC02537
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