Coalition Against Hepatitis for People of African Origin (CHIPO)
The Coalition Against Hepatitis for People of African Origin (CHIPO) is a community coalition co-founded and led by the Hepatitis B Foundation. We are comprised of organizations and individuals interested in addressing the high rates of hepatitis B infection among African communities around the world. CHIPO serves as a forum for sharing information and best practices and increasing national capacity to improve hepatitis B awareness, testing, vaccination and treatment among highly affected African communities.
People of African origin are disproportionately affected by hepatitis B infection. In fact, in some African communities in the U.S., between 5% and 15% of people have chronic HBV infection. Unfortunately, due to the silent nature of the disease, lack of disease awareness, and limited health care access, most African community members who have hepatitis B DO NOT KNOW that they are infected. This puts them at much greater risk for premature death from cirrhosis or liver cancer.
The key to addressing the high burden of hepatitis B infection in people of African origin is to improve awareness and access to hepatitis B information, screening, vaccination, and follow-up care. CHIPO brings together people from around the world who are working in their own local communities to address these very issues.
Check out our recent podcast!
Partner Spotlight: Raising Awareness About Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer Among Somali Communities
In this episode of the Hepatitis B Foundation's podcast B Heppy, host Anousha spoke with Mohamed Ali, a public health professional with the Seattle King County Health Department as well as a board member of the Somali Health Board. Mohamed shared his experience working on the Foundation's recent liver cancer disparities project and educating Somali communities in Seattle about the link between hepatitis B and liver cancer.
Listen here!
View our Publication! Barriers to Hepatitis B Screening and Prevention for African Immigrant Populations in the United States: A Qualitative Study (2020)
Join CHIPO!
Does your organization serve African populations, or are you a passionate community member? All are welcome at CHIPO's coalition calls! Our next call will take place on Monday November 18th, 2024 at 2pm Eastern Time, where we will be joined by Dr. Nicollate Okoko, Director of Clinical Services and Pediatric Adolescent Technical Lead at Zidkijah Medical Center in Rongo, Migori County, Kenya, who will share about some of the hepatitis B-related work she and her organization have been doing in this setting and context. Email beatrice.zovich@hepb.org if you have questions or are interested in joining!
CHIPO Call Minutes
New Blog Post! CHIPO Member Highlight: Africa Health Research Institute
This month, CHIPO highlights the incredible work of the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) in South Africa. We spoke with Dr. Janine Upton about AHRI’s mission to combat hepatitis B through research, community partnerships, and the EVoLVE study, which is enhancing local HBV care pathways and addressing key challenges like stigma and healthcare access. Read on to learn more about AHRI’s impactful efforts to support communities in need!
Read here!
Check out our recent webinar!
Catch the replay of our enlightening webinar on the integration of hepatitis B into healthcare systems! Esteemed speakers from Nigeria and Uganda share their unique perspectives and successful strategies for addressing hepatitis B in their communities.
This session delves into the challenges and opportunities of hepatitis B prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, highlighting innovative, real-world approaches within integrated healthcare frameworks. Gain valuable insights, explore best practices, and discover how we can collectively enhance the global response to hepatitis B.
Watch the webinar here!
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