Finally more federal money for Hepatitis C?

[flower-child-68]

I was reading today's headline about Hep C beating out HIV for killing people in the US. Maybe this will help wake up our politicians and country that Hep C is a major problem and deserves some attention. Not.

Unfortunately I also heard that Obama's new budget actually proposes cuts to the already miniscule hepatitis budget.

Short term priorities always win out and until hep gets a real community voice things will never change. So sad.

Hep C Now Trumps HIV as Cause of Death in U.S.
http://www.hepmag.com/articles/hiv_hcv_deaths_2501_21929.shtml

[dot3434]

Not going to happen until a lot more people start dying and preferrably on the nightly news.

[farmgirl]

at some point the powers that be will wake up to the problem. lets hope it is sooner rather than later.

[diannastarr]

keep dreaming people. until it becomes there problem this will never get the attention it deserves.

[Ann]

We need to take a leaf out of the books of hiv activists. The only reason hiv finally got the attention it deserved is because people living with hiv took to the streets and made their voices heard.

The catch-phrase ACT-UP used in the late 80s and 90s is very appropriate for hep C as well:

SILENCE=DEATH

We need more hep C activists! It's no use talking about the lack of awareness and funding on some internet forum - get out there and speak up! Write letters to your congressmen. Talk to your local health authority about raising hep C awareness.

Advocate, agitate, activate!

[Debby]

Great advice!  Something has to change.