Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jeannine Garriga, Patient Navigator at Boom Health, on Viral Hepatitis Prevention Initiative
5:48:05
ยท
153 sec
Jeannine Garriga, a patient navigator at Boom Health, testified about the importance of the New York City Council Viral Hepatitis Prevention Initiative and requested additional funding to expand services for hepatitis B and C prevention, testing, and treatment in New York City.
- Highlighted the high prevalence of hepatitis B and C in NYC, with 314,000 residents living with chronic hepatitis B and C
- Compared newly reported hepatitis B and C cases (6,947 and 2,375 respectively in 2023) to new HIV diagnoses (1,686 in 2023) to illustrate the need for increased focus on hepatitis
- Requested an additional $2,000,000 investment, for a total of $4,240,000, to enhance hepatitis B and C services, including hiring more patient navigators and conducting more testing events
Jeannine Garriga
5:48:05
Good afternoon, chairperson Schulman and members of the committee on health.
5:48:09
My name is Janine Gariga and I serve as a patient navigator at Boom Health.
5:48:13
We participate in the New York City Council Viral Hepatitis Prevention Initiative which delivers some of the nation's most innovative and effective hepatitis b and c prevention, treatment, education, and linkage to care programs.
5:48:27
Boom Health is a harm reduction center that provides a wide range of services including syringe exchange, medication assisted treatment, opioid overdose prevention training, as well as HIV and hepatitis C testing and linkages to care.
5:48:42
An estimated three hundred and fourteen thousand New York City residents are living with chronic hepatitis b and c.
5:48:49
With infection rates this high, it is essential to sustain and expand the viral hepatitis prevention initiative to protect the health of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers.
5:49:00
Moreover, this initiative serves as a model and beacon of hope for similar efforts nationwide and globally.
5:49:09
According to the most recent New York City Department of Health surveillance report, six thousand nine hundred and forty seven individuals were newly reported with chronic hepatitis B and C in 2023.
5:49:21
Additionally, two thousand three hundred and seventy five individuals were newly reported with chronic hepatitis C in New York City that same year.
5:49:29
For comparison, there were sixteen eighty six new HIV diagnoses in New York City in 2023.
5:49:36
This stark contrast illustrates that not only did newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases sharply increase, but more than four times as many individuals were newly reported with hepatitis b compared to HIV.
5:49:49
The high disease burden of hepatitis b and c in New York City coupled with low investment in the city's viral hepatitis response puts the health of New Yorkers at significant risk.
5:50:01
I respectfully urge you to continue to support the viral hepatitis prevention initiative in the upcoming fiscal year.
5:50:07
Okay.
5:50:08
We are requesting an additional $2,000,000 investment for a total of $4,240,000 to enhance our hepatitis B and C services.
5:50:17
This funding would enable us to hire more patient navigators, conduct more hepatitis B and C testing events, and strengthen our linkage to care and treatment for more New Yorkers.
5:50:28
Sustaining and expanding this initiative will help reduce the long term financial burden hepatitis b and c impose on our New York City health care system.
5:50:37
Thank you.