As we observe both
National Women’s Health Week and
Hepatitis Awareness Month,
it is the opportune time to raise awareness about hepatitis B and
hepatitis C among women. Chronic viral hepatitis affects 3.5-5.3 million
Americans—including millions of women—and most are unaware of their
infection. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C can lead
to liver disease, liver cancer, and liver failure.
However, there are steps that every woman can take to avoid
these dangerous outcomes. We share this information in a newly
available archive of a webinar,
What Every Woman Needs to Know about Hepatitis B and C,
which the Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP)
hosted in partnership with the HHS Office on Women’s Health (OWH), one
of the 20 federal departments, agencies and offices partnering to pursue
the goals of the updated
Action Plan for the Prevention, Care, & Treatment of Viral Hepatitis.
The webinar was designed to share important health information about
this often overlooked and misunderstood health issue and to help women
better understand viral hepatitis and what they should do to help
themselves and their families stay healthy.