about HBI
founders
history
leadership
partners & awards

New-Check out events sponsored by HBI-DC!

HBI-DC developed a successful innovative faith-based program. From 2003–2006, a total of 1,775 persons were tested for HBV infection through HBI-DC's faith-based program where services were delivered at locations where the community gathers. Of all the participants, 2% (n = 35) were tested HBV positive (HbsAg+, HbsAb − ), 37% (n = 651) were HBV negative but protected (HbsAg − , HbsAb+), and 61% (n = 1089) were unprotected (HbsAg − , HbsAb − ).  About 79% completed 3-shot vaccine series and HBI-DC was able to protect them for life from hepatitis B. For more information, see article published in Journal of Community Health.

Background:
In 2002, HBI expanded its services to the DC metro area at the request of the National Taskforce on Hepatitis B: Focus on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and CDC. Maryland and Virginia are two of the twelve states identified by the Taskforce as being at greatest need for hepatitis B awareness activities.

HBI-DC conducted a needs assessment and formed partnerships to launch a campaign which would enhance existing infrastructures with hepatitis B awareness. A Korean campaign was launched in 2003 as a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of providing cultural and linguistic appropriate education, screening, and vaccination directly at locations where communities gather. The first Hepatitis B Initiative Ministry was formed from members of the Christ Central Presbyterian Church (CCPC), formally known as Korean Central Presbyterian Church-English Ministry. The tremendous success of the pilot program created a demand from organizations both local and around the Nation to expand HBI's outreach to other Korean churches, and explore piloting programs for the Chinese and Vietnamese communities. See our schedule of events from 2003-2006 as an example of how you might arrange your own events.

We are grateful to Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu, Deputy Surgeon General, and Master Jhoon Rhee, world-renowned martial arts instructor and member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, for helping us to launch this initiative.

After he spoke to the congregation, Master Jhoon Rhee set an example bywalking
straight over to our screening event and being the first to getting screened for hepatitis B.

Before he spoke to the congregation, Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu helped
Leslie Hsu Oh and Dr. Taeho Kim setup for the screening event.

The Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asked HBI to replicate our successful faith-based model on a national level, in partnership with the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations and the Asian Pacific Islander Health Forum. On January 24, 2006, HBI raised awareness about hepatitis B and provided free screenings to Korean American pastors from around the United States. Check out tools that will be made available in a guidebook for raising awareness about hepatitis B in faith-based programs.

Top row, left to right: Gem Daus, APIAHF; Jeff Cabellero, AAPCHO; Dr. Garth Graham,
OMH-HHS and two of his guests; Pastor Hank Hahm, HBI-DC; Taylor Kim, HBI-DC.
Bottom row, left to right: Katherine Bowman and Earline McWilliams, Gilead;
Betty Lam, HBI-DC; Betty Lee Hawks, OMH-HHS, Leslie Hsu Oh, HBI-DC;
Sun Hi Kim, HBI-DC; Grace Tsai, HBI-DC; Wai-ping Chan, HBI-DC; Thomas Oh, HBI-DC.

Pastor Harold Kim,Christ Central Presbyterian Church, pretended the screening hurt.
All the pastors that attended the conference volunteered to get screened for hepatitis B.

For more information or to partner with us, please contact Jane Pan, Executive Director of HBI-DC.