HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2012-60COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTY OF KAUAI ion iiatotutton5 No. 2012-60 RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT MALAMA PONO'S EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE HEPATITIS B ON KAUAI THROUGH THE HEPATITIS B ELIMINATION PROJECT"WHEREAS, Hepatitis B is defined as irritation and swelling (inflammation)of the liver due to infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV); and WHEREAS, the liver is such an important organ that the human body can only survive one or two days if the liver were to shut down; and WHEREAS, Hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and infected bodily fluids, which can occur through direct blood-to-blood contact, unprotected sex, use of unsterile needles, and from an infected mother to her newborn during delivery; and WHEREAS, Hepatitis B is the most common cause of liver cancer, and Hawai`i has the highest rate of liver cancer in the nation; and WHEREAS, the financial burden for liver failure and liver cancer in terms of health care costs, suffering and reduced quality of life is significant on Kauai; and WHEREAS, the State of Hawai`i Department of Health reports that more than forty thousand (40,000) people living in Hawai`i are infected with Hepatitis B and approximately 950 of those infected are Kaua`i residents; and y a d WHEREAS, nearly two-thirds (2/3) of persons infected with Hepatitis B may be unaware that they are infected; and WHEREAS, Hepatitis B preventative vaccinations and treatment is available to all residents on Kauai; and WHEREAS, Malama Pono Health Services, its Board of Directors, and staffs mission is to eliminate Hepatitis B incidents from Kaua`i; and WHEREAS, Malama Pono offers free, confidential testing for Kauai residents through their "Hepatitis B Elimination Project"; now, therefore,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF KAUAI,STATE OF HAWAII, offers its support to Malama Pono Health Services for its effort to eliminate Hepatitis B through its "Hepatitis B Elimination Project" and encourages all Kauai residents who think that they may be at risk for Hepatitis B to be tested.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all Kaua`i residents are encouraged to become educated about Hepatitis B and schedule an appointment for a vaccination for themselves and their family members.BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Malama Pono Health Services.Introduced by A.,te:A.„C:k..et..,t, KIPUKAI KUALII V:\CS OFFICE FILES\RESOLUTIONS\2010-2012 term\Malama Pono Res to Eliminate Hepatitis.doc Mitt & a eivr4cate El Eli" x 9'X IN Lefuj, c j. 0.1 91.40 on, 'aa. 2012-60 u,u, xac,t ti,e, ux'i., 5 ,i`;., 0A1 November 28 2012.gad 7 0 0 0 Da.a 11-28-12 28 12 I