HEPATITIS C COMMUNITY SEEKS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

From Hepatitis C Movement for Awareness
110 Glover Circle
Staunton VA 24401
540 248 7324

Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus that infects over 5.8 million Americans, four times the rate of the AIDS virus.  It is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States and infects over 200 million people worldwide.  Based on National Institutes of Health statistics, 30 percent of those infected are expected to develop end stage liver disease (1.8 million) with only 5,000 organs available annually for transplant in the United States. When end stage failure occurs, the patient's only hope is a liver transplant.  There is no cure, no vaccine, and the few available treatments are lengthy, expensive, and debilitating.  Early detection, through testing, is essential. 

Hepatitis C is non-discriminatory, affecting all races, both genders, and all socioeconomic levels. Government, at all levels in the United States is doing far too little to combat Hepatitis C. Conservative estimates place the costs of lost productivity and medical care arising from chronic Hepatitis C in the United States at over $600 Million annually. Such costs are expected to increase in the absence of expanded prevention and treatment efforts.

Not surprisingly, Hepatitis C strikes Military Veterans the hardest, next are minorities and  the poor.  Military Veterans, of which many are minorities, historically vote in larger numbers than the general population and will play a significant role in this election. Support will be based on how the leader of our country will recognize and commit to the battle taking place to stop a deadly virus.

As a candidate for the 2004 Presidential election, we are asking you to respond to 10 questions.  Please make your answers brief and to the point. 

1. It is estimated that over 5.8 million Americans are infected with the Hepatitis C virus and over 30 percent develop end stage liver disease.  Most victims do not know they are infected.  If you are elected, would you actively work to make sure the government does more to educate the public about Hepatitis C?  Why?  How?  

2. Statistics indicate that there are over four persons with Hepatitis C for every person with HIV/AIDS in the United States.  Military Veterans are infected ten times the national rate. Hepatitis C is responsible for over 50% of Veterans Administration Health Care liver transplants that occur and continues to be the major reason for liver transplantation in the United States.  It is estimated that the death rate (12 thousand annually in the US) will triple over the next 10 to 20 years unless something is done.  Should federal government, as done for HIV/AIDS, declare a state of emergency for Hepatitis C?  Please explain. 

3. Lack of researching Hepatitis C as a whole disease has led to much misconception related to transmission methods for this virus. Recently, ear, nose and throat scopes and GYN scopes used during gynecological examination on women, were implemented as exposure methods for the Hepatitis C virus. The governments' treatment and prevention plan through the Center for Disease Control places Hepatitis C with in Sexually Transmitted Disease clinic under AIDS/HIV measures for prevention. Although HIV rates have declined under current Center of Disease Control actions, Hepatitis C has not. In fact, Hepatitis C infections have risen. Prevention methods for HIV do not always work for Hepatitis C and Hepatitis C is not a sexually transmitted disease.  Current Federal Acts before congress, indirectly place Hepatitis C under HIV strategic guidelines for treatment and prevention and management of funding.  Many of those in the Hepatitis C community  that accept this, do so under duress with many completely opposed to this plan.

The Hepatitis C epidemic is discovering what was. In 1988 242,000 Hepatitis C infections were reported annually. These high figures were reported throughout 1980's.  Since 1989 and mandatory heating or washing of blood products, the annual number of new infections had declined more than 80 percent by 1998. This follows more efficient testing procedures for donors with tests that existed, but manufacture patents and FDA delay, prevented distribution.  Universal precaution guidelines became effective in 1996. What will you do as President, to insure public safety and avert new transmission methods discovered yearly due to Government's focus for research, treatment and prevention centered on lifestyle choices as the only means to educate?

4.  As with many liver diseases, a standard of living that avoids toxins such as alcohol, plus certain prescribed or over the counter medications and herbal remedies, can benefit disease progression and ease economic burden. This is especially true with Hepatitis C and why efforts to identify infected patients through infected blood products is critical.  On January 22, 1998, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services concurred with the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability and indicated that persons who may have acquired Hepatitis C virus infection from blood transfusion be identified through lookback notifications, and that other people at risk for Hepatitis C infection also should be identified. The Secretary requested the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a comprehensive plan to address the prevention and control of Hepatitis C infection and its consequences. No Patients have been identified and the program has virtually come to a complete halt. As President, what will you do to insure these patients are notified so they can stop spreading Hepatitis C and receive appropriate health care?

5. Will you assist Representative Henry A. Waxman (D - CA) attempt to call for an investigation into the blood industry decision to avoid testing the donors for years because of cost, exposing helpless American citizens to bloodborne pathogens for profit?

6. Despite the very high infection rates for Military Veterans, Hepatitis C is not a presumed service connected disease. There were no  universal precautions in place. Military personnel were exposed to jet gun injections, reused lancets and needles such as small pox, and cylinder type syringes. They were infected by blood through vaccines, transfusions, battlefield wounds and dental and medical procedures while  technicians did not wear gloves. Hepatitis C transmission has been documented in renal dialysis settings by technicians that did not wear gloves.

Veterans, active military personnel and dependents are denied service connection, appropriate testing, care or therapy. The Government Accounting Office has sited the Veterans Administration (VA) four times since 2000, for mismanagement of Hepatitis C funding and the failure to test and treat veterans. Will you commit to Presumed Service Connection for military veterans that have Hepatitis C and other bloodborne pathogen diseases? Please explain.

7. Currently, the VA is closing clinics that spend too much money on Hepatitis C treatment. Procedures demand VA Doctors strictly adhere to VA guidelines for treatment of Hepatitis C. The VA is insisting doctors cannot use higher doses or longer duration of treatment in patients who need it. VA Doctors are politically punished for doing so. Stripping VA doctors of his ability to treat patients, has broken Federal Law. The US Supreme Court has upheld the right for doctors to prescribe off label treatment for patients when needed and the FDA approves drugs off-label all the time. This is costing many veterans their lives. Will you, as President, ensure the VA adheres to the laws of our country?

 8. Organ donation may be lifesaving (organs) or life enhancing (e.g. corneas, bones, bone marrow, heart valves, ligaments and skin). A perfect donor can save eight lives with the following organs: two kidneys, two lungs, liver (which can be sectioned into two), heart, and either pancreas or small intestine. At least fifty other patients can benefit from the donor’s tissue donation. Will you establish legislation permitting Presumed Consent for organ donation?  

9. Nationally it is estimated 25% to 40% of inmates incarcerated in state prison settings are infected with hepatitis C. In 1996, California reported 55% of female offenders and 39% of male offenders entering the California Corrections system were HCV positive. A recent Texas study showed 30% of incoming inmates infected. The State of Washington determined that 25% of offenders were Hepatitis C positive. They also cited liver disease associated with Hepatitis C to be the third leading cause of death in their state prisons. As President, what will you do to stop the Hepatitis C Epidemic within our state and federal prisons system? 

10. Do you believe the federal administration should make multi-purpose government centers, which are located throughout the country, available for Hepatitis C support group meetings, as well as education and outreach programs? 

Thank you for your participation. Your response will assist us in choosing the most likely candidate to represent the devastated Hepatitis C community and protect other citizens form needless infections. With your help, we can stop the spread of this virus.  

The Hepatitis C Movement for Awareness

Kent Mesplay
kentmesplay@presidency.com
www.presidentkent.org
8556 Lynx Rd, San Diego, CA 92126
Campaign website should soon be up (try a search using Kent's name in a week or two)
State party affiliation: CALIFORNIA

Make appointments and take copies of our Questionnaire to all Candidates running for elected posts in local elections.  Just alter to suit the needs for your districts, Here is an example of the recent race for Mayor in Houston TX. Candidate Questionnaire on Hepatitis C 

Be sure to get their response in writing!!!! Then send a copy to hcvets@aol.com

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can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever does."
 -Margaret Mead

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