San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, his daughter Isabella, and Giants First Baseman Travis Ishikawa. (Photo by Calvin Wong)
SAN FRANCISCO (May 18, 2010) – As part of the continued partnership with San Francisco Hep B Free and the San Francisco Giants in May, first baseman Travis Ishikawa, San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, San Francisco Hep B Free Co-Founder Janet Zola, and Saint Francis Memorial Hospital’s Dr. Ming Tsang urged fans to ask their personal physicians to test them for hepatitis B.
The plea was part of the pregame ceremony with Giants mascot Lou Seal on May 14, 2010.
“I was shocked when I learned that one out of 10 Asian Americans is infected with hepatitis B,” said Travis Ishikawa, Giants first baseman. “We urge our fans to visit their doctor to get tested and vaccinated.”
“Hepatitis B is an issue that affects all San Franciscans,” said Phil Ting, Assessor-Recorder of San Francisco. “We need to work together to educate ourselves, our friends, and loved ones in the fight against hepatitis B and liver cancer.”
“Hepatitis B is called a ‘silent killer’ because there are often no symptoms,” said Janet Zola, Co-Founder of San Francisco Hep B Free and Health Promotion Specialist at the San Francisco Department of Public Health. “Even those who feel healthy should ask their doctor to test them for hepatitis B.”
“As a practicing primary care physician, I am passionate about informing all my patients about the risk of Hepatitis B,” said Ming Tsang, MD, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco. “Don’t be among the one in 10 Asians who contract hepatitis B, or the one in four who get liver cancer from hepatitis B. Talk to your doctor today.”
“We want to thank the San Francisco Giants for their continued generosity and help in raising public awareness about hepatitis B,” said Co-Founder of San Francisco Hep B Free Ted Fang. A portion of ticket sales from the Giants May Asian heritage night games will be donated to San Francisco Hep B Free.
San Francisco Hep B Free is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between city government, private healthcare community organizations and businesses. The campaign’s goal is to make San Francisco hepatitis B-free by (1) creating public and healthcare provider awareness about the importance of testing & vaccinating Asian and Pacific Islanders for hepatitis B; (2) promoting routine hepatitis B screenings and vaccinations within the primary care medical community; and (3) facilitating access to treatment for chronically infected individuals. For more info, please go to www.sfhepbfree.org.
