HepBcommunity.org: a Global Online Forum Supporting People Affected By Hepatitis B

The World Hepatitis Alliance is pleased to support the official launch of HepBcommunity.org, a global online forum dedicated to supporting those living with and affected by hepatitis B.

Founder of the new online forum and Westmead Hospital’s hepatitis B researcher, Dr Thomas Tu said, “Hepatitis B affects almost 300 million people globally and kills 800,000 people per year through liver cancer or liver failure.”

“While hepatitis B remains incurable, it can be managed and treated. But, people with hepatitis B face social stigma and discrimination, discouraging them from seeking medical help that could prevent progression of their illness to serious disease like liver cancer,” said Dr Tu.

Living with hepatitis B himself, Tu founded HepBcommunity.org for affected people worldwide to connect with each other, form support networks, and get advice from verified medical experts and researchers.

“The site is peer-led, volunteer-run, and free to join. We already have over 200 members from all over the world,” said Dr Tu.

Westmead Hospital’s Storr Liver Centre and the Hepatitis B Foundation have provided start-up funding and coordinate the forum with support from the World Hepatitis Alliance.

Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, senior vice president, Hepatitis B Foundation, believes, “The new forum is critically important because people can anonymously seek advice about how to live with hepatitis B, and what they can do to protect their liver and long-term health.”

“The ultimate goal is to save lives,” adds Su Wang, MD, MPH, president, World Hepatitis Alliance. “This is a safe and friendly online community that gives people around the world the information and support they need to live successfully with hepatitis B.”

Dr Tu emphasises that HepBcommunity.org complements, and is not intended to replace, doctor and specialist consultations for medical treatment for hepatitis B.

About HepBcommunity.org: HepBcommunity.org is a global online forum thatrepresents a safe and free platform created to support people living with and affected by hepatitis B, and to connect them with health experts and scientists in the field. It is funded and coordinated by the Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Hospital Foundation, and Hepatitis B Foundation with support from the World Hepatitis Alliance. To learn more, go to HepBcommunity.org.

About the Storr Liver Centre:

The Storr Liver Centre is one of the top research and patient care centers in the world that aims to understand liver disease and liver cancer, with the ultimate goal of developing effective preventive and curative strategies. We have active research programs in liver cancer, metabolic liver disease, and hepatitis B virus infection. To learn more, please contact Dr. Thomas Tu (t.tu@sydney.edu.au) or Prof. Jacob George (Jacob.george@sydney.edu.au).

About the Westmead Hospital Foundation (WHF):

Westmead Hospital Foundation (WHF) is the principal fundraising organisation for Westmead Hospital. For 31 years, Westmead Hospital Foundation has provided (through generous corporate and community donations and legacy gifts) support for medical research and patient care at Westmead Hospital. For more information, visit us westmeadhf.org.au, follow us on Facebook facebook.com/Westmead/, on Instagram instagram.com/westmeadfdn/ or call +61 2 8890 6289.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF): The Hepatitis B Foundation, headquartered in the United States, is the nation’s leading non-profit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education, public health and patient advocacy. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hepbfoundation, follow us on Twitter@HepBFoundation, read our blog at hepb.org/blog  or call 215-489-4900.

About the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA): The World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) is an international umbrella organisation with over 300 members in 100 countries. WHA represents the 325 million people living with viral hepatitis worldwide. WHA strives to support and promote the voices of the people and communities affected by viral hepatitis, to raise the profile of viral hepatitis and to establish comprehensive hepatitis strategies in all countries. Through better awareness, prevention, care, support and access to treatment, the ultimate goal is to work with governments to eliminate these diseases by 2030. To learn more, go to worldhepatitisalliance.org.