Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services has been given a $1 million grant from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to bulk up its hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment options for the city’s at-risk residents.
Long Beach is the first and only local health jurisdiction in the state to receive a Hepatitis B Demonstration Project Grant, and one of two grantees overall to receive this funding from CDPH.
Long Beach will use the grant funds to begin providing the following healthcare resources:
- HBV screenings
- HBV vaccinations
- Linkage to hepatitis B care
The grant will be aimed at assisting Long Beach’s Asian American and Pacific Islander residents, as well as populations with a history of substance use, all of whom are most impacted by or at risk of HBV infections.
The project is in line with the state’s public health objectives and the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan, with the goal to diminish acute hepatitis B infection rates, increase care for affected individuals and eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Follow the Long Beach Health Department on Instagram (@lbhealthdept) for further updates on the city’s hepatitis B treatment services rollout.
