【权利:3011】 Groups Launched China Hepatitis NGO Network

PRESS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release: November 20, 2010

 

Contact: Yu Fangqiang, representative of the rotating President (Beijing YIRENPING Center)

Tel: (86) 15901295748   Email: yutake2007@gmail.com 

 

News Release: Groups Launched China Hepatitis NGO Network

January 20, 2010

 

Eighteen non-governmental organizations specialising in Hepatitis B public service established the China Hepatitis NGO Network on January 3, 2010. 

 

There are up to 100 million Hepatitis B Virus(HBV) carriers in Chinese mainland and the network is expected to function as a nationwide cooperation mechanism to help HBV carriers. The issues at hand concern the everyday lives of huge number of citizens, including proper treatment of Hepatitis B, related drug pricing, universal vaccination, eliminating discrimination and safeguarding the rights of HBV carriers. More importantly, they are of great concern to the overall health of the Chinese people and themorality and justice of the society.

 

With their increasingly significant role in the public service as of Hepatitis B, particularly in combating discrimination against HBV carriers and protecting the legal rights of HBV carriers, the civil society groups have garnered widespread praise from all walks of life. Relevant authorities in the Ministry of Health have publicly given positive feedbacks to the work of these groups and hard-working coordinators in the groups have won international awards due to their tireless devotion fighting discrimination.

 

However, despite their certain advantages and flexibility over other kinds of organizations, these civil groups still have to strengthen themselves in areas such as information communication, experience sharing and work collaborating as they discover the need of a common platform to provide better assistance to the general public.

 

After a series of negotiations, 18 participating civil groups concluded on January 3 to jointly establish the China Hepatitis NGO Network. A charter of the network was finalized and 7 groups were elected to its Council, on which Beijing YIRENPING Center will be the first rotating President and Guangxi Health & Equality Working Group will act as the first rotating Secretary.