[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 147 (Monday, August 1, 2011)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 46183-46184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19618]



[[Page 46181]]

Vol. 76

Monday,

No. 147

August 1, 2011

Part VI





The President





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Proclamation 8696--World Hepatitis Day, 2011
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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 147 / Monday, August 1, 2011 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 46183]]

                Proclamation 8696 of July 27, 2011

                
World Hepatitis Day, 2011

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Across our Nation, millions of Americans are living 
                with viral hepatitis. As many as three-fourths of 
                Americans living with the disease are unaware of their 
                status and are not receiving care and treatment for 
                their condition. Raising awareness about hepatitis is 
                crucial to effectively fight stigmas, stem the tide of 
                new infections, and ensure treatment reaches those who 
                need it. On World Hepatitis Day, we join with people 
                across our country and around the globe in promoting 
                strategies that will help save lives and prevent the 
                spread of viral hepatitis.

                Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, and can 
                cause a lifetime of health issues for people who 
                contract it. Hepatitis B and C viruses are the cause of 
                a growing number of new liver cancer cases and liver 
                transplants. In the United States, hepatitis is a 
                leading infectious cause of death, claiming the lives 
                of thousands of Americans each year. While we have come 
                far, work still needs to be done to prevent and treat 
                this disease.

                Viral hepatitis touches Americans of all backgrounds, 
                but certain groups are at greater risk than others. 
                Past recipients of donated blood, infants born to 
                mothers infected with viral hepatitis, and persons with 
                sexually transmitted diseases or behaviors such as 
                injection-drug use have risks for viral hepatitis. Baby 
                boomers and African Americans have higher rates than 
                others of contracting hepatitis C. Half of all 
                Americans living with hepatitis B today are of Asian 
                American and Pacific Islander descent, and one-third of 
                people living with HIV also have either hepatitis B or 
                hepatitis C. Worldwide, one in twelve people is living 
                with viral hepatitis.

                We must make sure that this ``silent epidemic'' does 
                not go unnoticed by health professionals or by 
                communities across our country. Under the Affordable 
                Care Act, services including hepatitis immunizations 
                for adults and hepatitis screenings for pregnant women 
                are fully covered by all new insurance plans. My 
                Administration has also released a comprehensive Action 
                Plan for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral 
                Hepatitis. The plan brings together expertise and tools 
                across government to coordinate our fight against this 
                deadly disease. Our goal is to reduce the number of new 
                infections, increase status awareness among people with 
                hepatitis, and eliminate the transmission of hepatitis 
                B from mothers to their children.

                The first step toward achieving these goals is raising 
                public awareness of this life-threatening disease. We 
                must work to reduce the stigma surrounding hepatitis, 
                and to ensure that testing, information, counseling, 
                and treatment are available to all who need it. The 
                hard work and dedication of health-care professionals, 
                researchers, and advocates will help bring us closer to 
                this goal. On this day, we renew our support for those 
                living with hepatitis, and for their families, friends, 
                and communities who are working to create a brighter, 
                healthier future.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim July 28, 2011, as 
                World Hepatitis Day. I encourage citizens, Government 
                agencies, nonprofit

[[Page 46184]]

                organizations, and communities across the Nation to 
                join in activities that will increase awareness about 
                hepatitis and what we can do to prevent it.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2011-19618
Filed 7-29-11; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3195-W1-P