THE NATIONAL HEPATITIS C ADVOCACY C0UNCIL, AN ASSOCIATION OF 27 HEPATITIS C ORGANIZATION, WILL BE MEETING ON FRIDAY, MAR. 23 WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, SURGEON GENERAL OFFICE AND OTHERS REGARDING AN EPIDEMIC WITHOUT FEDERAL FUNDING.

THE NATIONAL HEPATITIS C ADVOCACY COUNCIL WAS FORMED IN 2000, AN ASSOCIATION OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT CREATES A UNIFIED VOICE, PROMOTES ETHICAL GUIDELINES, AND IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF SERVICES FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HEPATITIS C.

THE COUNCIL ATTENDEES INCLUDE AMERICAN LIVER FOUNDATION, HEPATITIS FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL, HCV GLOBAL, HEP C CONNECTION, HEP C ADVOCATE NETWORK (HEPCAN), FRONTLINE HEPATITIS, HOPE FOR HEPPERS, BACK TO LIFE, AND CARING AMBASSADORS. THESE GROUPS WILL BE COMING FROM AS FAR AWAY AS MAUI, CALIFORNIA, OREGON, WASHINGTON, TEXAS, COLORADO, NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND AND FLORIDA.

PRESS CONFERENCE PAGE TWO NATIONAL HEPATITIS ADVOCACY COUNCIL

ATTENDING THE MEETING WILL BE POLICY ADVISORS ON THE HOUSE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE SENATE HEALTH EDUCATION COMMITTEE, SENATE PUBLIC HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE, SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVERAL CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS.

THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL LIE OUT WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS ASKED FOR, THE PRIORITIES NECESSARY TO ADDRESS HEPATITIS C EPIDEMIC, AND FUNDING FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, TREATMENT AND COUNSELING.

THE COUNCIL WILL BE ATTENDING THE HEPATITIS FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL’S MARCH ON WASHINGTON WEEKEND MEETINGS AND THEN WILL BE VISITING CONGRESS AND SENATORS IN THEIR OFFICES ON MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2001.