International Campaign

The ALC Promotes National Catch-up Vaccination Programs and Anti-Discrimination Practices in Chengdu, China
Dr. So traveled to Chengdu to deliver the opening keynote address at the China Hepatitis Prevention and Control Conference on November 16, 2006. In his speech, Dr. So gave recommendations for a comprehensive national strategy to eliminate hepatitis B in China, emphasizing the need for an expanded immunization program that would provide free catch-up vaccination for unprotected children and adolescents. Download and read the abstract here (in English).

In addition, Sichuan University held its first Graduate Student Health Forum on November 17, 2006. The ALC was invited to introduce the Jade Ribbon, which was officially adopted to represent their anti-discrimination stance regarding HBV. Read more about the Jade Ribbon in China and the ALC's visit to Sichuan University (in Chinese).

The Commitment Continues in Qinghai, China
The Qinghai vaccination project will cover 60,000 school age children in 331 schools. The project kicked off on September 5, 2006 and will continue until April 2007. We anticipate a 95% vaccine completion rate as well as an 80% increase in hepatitis B prevention education knowledge levels. The program involves collaboration from a variety of government departments and agencies, highlighting the fact that hepatitis B prevention is not only a health concern, but also an educational and social issue.

Dr. So, Teacher Zhao and ZheShan Foundation Executive Director Ho Wei Chi pose with the classic "3 For Life" sign with students in Qinghai. Because of our catch-up hepatitis B vaccination and education program, by April 2007 these children will no longer have to fear HBV.

Dr. So, Jordan Su, Jonathan Chen and Jay Zhang in front of the WHO vehicle that transported them 800 miles around Qinghai during their visit. Jay and Jonathan are currently working in Qinghai traveling around school by school to reinforce the education effort. In the month of September alone they traveled to 30 schools and met with 6500 students.

Click here for a Chinese language article on the Qinghai Project.

ALC Brings Catch-Up Program to China: 100,000 Students Vaccinated in 2005!
The Jade Ribbon Campaign in the People's Republic of China was officially launched at the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference from April 26-30, 2004 in Hangzhou, China. This conference, held in conjunction with the China Centers for Disease Control and the Ministry of Health, featured a keynote speech by Dr. So, addressing "Why Eradicating Hepatitis B and Liver Cancer Should be a National Priority in China."

China has the greatest burden of hepatitis B and liver cancer in the world. One-third of the 350-400 million people in the world with chronic (lifelong) hepatitis B live in China, with the incidence of hepatitis B in some provinces reaching upwards of 17%. Each year, an estimated 500,000 Chinese die of liver cancer or failure caused by hepatitis B.

Although the adoption of a national policy since 2003 to provide newborns with free HBV vaccination was an important initial step towards reducing the incidence of hepatitis B, many children and young adults are left vulnerable to HBV infection.

In partnership with the China Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control and provincial CDC and health departments, the Asian Liver Center and the ShinShin Educational Foundation in the U.S. have launched a catch-up vaccination program in 2004 to vaccinate about 3,500 grade-school children in the Sichuan province. In 2005, the ALC partnered with the Sun Hung Kai Properties Kwok Foundation Ltd. and the Lui Hac Minh Foundation to provide free vaccinations for more than 100,000 students in China. In this massive program, the ALC provided the faculty, training, staff, lab equipment, educational materials, and vaccines to the region.

Reaching the Philippines in Partnership with the American Cancer Society
In September, the ALC in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, established a partnership with the Philippine Cancer Society, the Philippine Department of Health, and the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology to help address the disproportionately high prevalence of hepatitis B and liver cancer in the Philippines. Currently this collaboration is attempting to implement effective strategies in preventing hepatitis B through government health policies, such as updating national newborn vaccination guidelines and increasing public awareness.


- Copyright 2005 Asian Liver Center at Stanford University -