HWNC Press

For Immediate release

Aug 17, 2005

San Antonio, TX – Health Wise Network Charities, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to educate the San Antonio Metropolitan area of several Disease processes, in particular, Hepatitis C and Diabetes, are proud to announce another Public Education Event. Health Wise Network Charities, Inc. in conjunction with Alamo Medical Research, and Schering-Plough are organizing the upcoming: HEPATITIS C AWARENESS WEEK, March 1-5,2006.

Hepatitis C is a life-threatening, disease of the liver, which is transmitted by exposure to blood. A particularly dangerous form of viral hepatitis, Hepatitis C can lead to serious permanent liver damage, and in many cases death. More than 82 percent of those who are infected will progress to chronic liver disease. Chronic hepatitis C is the leading reason for liver transplants in the United States. It is suspected that there are, at present, more than 4.5 million people in the United States that are infected with hepatitis C, and more than 200 million around the world.

HEPATITIS C AWARENESS WEEK is a community outreach event. Its primary goal is to educate our community on the risk factors of Hepatitis C and help infected individuals receive proper care and treatment. The event will be broken up into single day programs held in Shopping Malls throughout the San Antonio area. A public relations marketing program will be implemented to utilize television radio and print to promote this weeklong event.

An entertaining and informative multimedia presentation is being produced for the event. A program of video, graphics and audio will be presented on a wall of monitors of varying sizes.

Free screening for Hepatitis C will be provided to help identify patients. It is important to us that infected individuals get the treatment they need.

Music, Sports and Television/Radio personalities will be present to sign autographs and help spread the word of this dangerous and hidden disease once called by former surgeon general C. Evertt Koop a “silent epidemic”.

If you are interested in becoming a very visible sponsor with this local initiative, contact Danny Gomez at (210) 733-3117 or email at danny@hwnc.org.