FIGHTING HEPATITIS

I attended a meeting July 10 at Community Health Center-Sierra, in which a
hepatitis C task force was to be put in place. Jena Adams chaired the
meeting. There were several organizations present: Health Department,
Veterans Administration, Roche Pharmacy, WestCare California, along with
several liver transplant recipients and Dr. Marc Lasher.

The only suggestion I heard was from Dr. Lasher, who suggested a needle
exchange program that must be initiated immediately to stop the spread of
this life-threatening disease. The health department should be able to give
us some direction.

The presentation of the epidemiology of hepatitis C was made by Renee
Witcher-Johnson, MPH. I was astounded by the increased numbers in the
Valley infected by this disease.

I was really impressed by the Veterans Administration and its approach to
this deadly disease. It seems it is the only organization in Fresno that
has taken time to discuss this issue with its patients who are at risk for
this disease, perform proper laboratory tests and have documentation on
these patients.

What is it going to take for Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties to get a
task force started? San Luis Obispo County started one five years ago. This
may be the place we should start to find out how we can get some funding.

My nephew was recently diagnosed with hepatitis C. He already had liver
damage because of a prescription given for parasites, which he contracted
while serving in Afghanistan. He will eventually need a liver transplant.
He was one of the heroes at the Pentagon on Sept. 11.

Joan Clore, Fresno