Updated at 7:40 a.m., Thursday, February 8, 2007
Philippine Medical group hosting hepatitis forum
Advertiser Staff
The new president of the Philippine Medical Association of Hawai'i will be the lead speaker tonight at an open forum regarding "Anything you wanted to know about Hepatitis B or C (but were afraid to ask!)."The forum is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Life Foundation, 677 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 226. The Life Foundation is in the Gold Bond building, near Comp USA.
Dr. Fernando Ona will answer questions about the "silent epidemics" hepatitis B and C, and what treatments are available in the state. He'll also discuss plans for PMAH in 2007. According to a PMAH news release, Hawai'i has the highest rate of liver cancer in the U.S. Overall, 10,000 to 12,000 people across the U.S. die from liver diseases caused by hepatitis C.
The news release also states that Hepatitis C is the most common chronic blood-borne viral infection in Hawai'i, with an estimated 22,000-plus residents currently infected.
