Viral Hepatitis Coordinators:
Providing Critical Prevention and Control Assistance Nationwide
"CDC
depends on our Viral Hepatitis Coordinators to get the latest information
out to their state and local health departments. They are resources
who lend their expertise on viral hepatitis to the general public
and health officials. Coordinators liaison with various programs
(e.g. sexually transmitted diseases, drug treatment, corrections)
to provide the critical link that ensures our prevention programs
reach individuals at-risk for viral hepatitis."
Harold
Margolis, M.D.
Acting Director
Division of Viral Hepatitis
The
conclusion of the 8th annual Hepatitis Coordinators Conference
solidifies the Coordinators' position as key players in the
continuing effort to prevent and control hepatitis B and hepatitis
C.
Hepatitis
Coordinators are the critical link between state and local health
departments and the CDC. Under CDC's guidance, these individuals
manage programs to
prevent, monitor, and control viral hepatitis. There
are two kinds of coordinators, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Coordinators.
Coordinator
Responsibilities
Coordinators,
the designated hepatitis program experts for their state, work with
organizations and individuals on all levels of viral hepatitis prevention.
They provide the bridge between CDC and the states, ensuring that
funding and programs get to the states as needed. Their work reaches
out locally to hospitals, physicians, STD clinics and drug
treatment centers. They ensure that education and counseling of
viral hepatitis prevention is provided to communities and
individuals.
Hepatitis B Coordinators work primarily with physicians and
hospitals to ensure that pregnant women with hepatitis B are identified and
that appropriate medical care is given to their babies to prevent
the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Comprehensive prevention
strategies to eliminate HBV transmission in the U.S. include:
1) preventing perinatal HBV infections by ensuring
- screening
of all pregnant women,
- appropriate
postexposure prophylaxis of infants,
- follow-up
testing of infants born to HBV-infected mothers
-follow-up of household and sex
contacts;
2) promoting routine hepatitis B vaccination of infants;
3) ensuring vaccination of infants/children of immigrants from areas
with high rates of HBV infection (view
map);
4) facilitating catch-up vaccination of persons under 18 years
of age; and,
5) promoting hepatitis B vaccination of especially high risk
adolescents and adults of all ages.
In
addition, Hepatitis B Coordinators are accessible to the public as a
valuable resource of information for viral hepatitis. They can
answer questions regarding hepatitis B immunization schedules and
vaccine funding.
Hepatitis
C Coordinators work with a variety of public health professionals in
areas like HIV/AIDS, immunizations, sexually transmitted diseases,
and corrections. Their main objective is to promote the
successful integration of hepatitis C prevention into these existing
programs. Prevention activities include:
1) identifying opportunities to incorporate HCV counseling and
testing;
2) coordinating training of health care professionals;
3) facilitating HCV testing in diagnostic laboratories;
4) identifying the resources for hepatitis A and B vaccines for
at-risk persons;
5) ensuring referrals for HCV positive persons needing medical care;
6) assisting in surveillance of HCV infection; and,
7) evaluating effectiveness of HCV prevention activities.
Also,
Hepatitis C Coordinators can answer questions about viral hepatitis
from individuals in need of assistance.
Who
Are the Coordinators?
Many
of the Coordinators include persons trained as nurses, public health
professionals, or a combination of the two. They usually work out of
state or city health departments. Every state has a Hepatitis B
Coordinator, but only 26 states have Hepatitis C Coordinators.
Additional states will have Hepatitis C Coordinators as funding
becomes available.
Where
to Go for More Information and Assistance
State
and local health departments can direct organizations and individuals
needing information or assistance. Please refer to the State and
Local Health Departments list on the Information
Networks and Other Information Sources
page.
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