Hepatitis C

It is estimated that there are more than 6 million Americans living with chronic hepatitis C and/or hepatitis B. Most Americans living with hepatitis C are unaware of their infection. In addition, an estimated 225,000 people with hepatitis C are co-infected with HIV.

Despite these staggering statistics, federal funding for viral hepatitis programs has not increased in years. Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS advocates are working together get badly needed increases for testing and education programs and to pass the “Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act”.

Hepatitis C Advocates UNITED! is a national, grassroots network of individuals and organizations fighting for increased funding for hepatitis programs and legislation to mount a comprehensive federal effort to fight the disease. We design grassroots strategies to educate our elected representatives about the need for adequate HCV funding and policies, including action alerts, sign-on letters legislative meetings, media activities, and other campaigns. We also share information and strategies on state-level issues and campaigns. We communicate through a moderated listserv and monthly conference calls. Hepatitis C Advocates UNITED! was formed by the Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnership (HCAP) and the National Hepatitis C Advocacy Council (NHCAC).

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