The Hepatitis Education and Prevention Program (HEPP), previously called the Hepatitis B Catch-Up Project, was initiated in October 1997 to increase hepatitis B vaccination rates among APIA children 18 and under in Chicago and metropolitan areas. Designed as a community-based model for health education and disease prevention, the program now collaborates with 9 local APIA community organizations, 1 African immigrant organization, and 1Latino immigrant community organization to improve hepatitis B screening and immunization rates. The program has built partnerships with communities, local medical and nursing schools, schools of public health, churches, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies to provide culturally sensitive and language appropriate services in diverse immigrant communities.

Program objectives are to: 1) raise public awareness about hepatitis A, B and C, 2) prevent viral hepatitis through education, screening, and vaccination, 3) reduce barriers to screening, immunization and health care; and 4) educate health professionals on current recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis.

With support from GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead, Roche, and Index Pharmaceutical Companies, HEPP has provided free HBV screening for over 1,658 uninsured Asian adults and followed with free immunizations to over 500 found to be susceptible to HBV. Vaccine was provided to the Program by the Chicago Department of Public Health free of charge. Everyone screened client completed a risk factor questionnaire, which has been correlated with screening results. A follow-up survey of clients who were found to be chronically infected were surveyed to ascertain their understanding of their disease and behavioral observations were conducted.

HEPP collaborates with a GI specialist from the University of Chicago Medical Center, to provide updates on current hepatitis research, diagnosis and treatment recommendations to health professionals serving the immigrant community.