Reflecting on 2019 - A Year of Collaboration on Viral Hepatitis

Viral Hepatitis Updates from the HHS Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy

Dear Colleague,

As we come to the close of 2019 and look toward 2020, we are reflecting on all of the great work done this year that contributed to hepatitis elimination and highlighting a few stand out activities:

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched a new project, Mapping Hepatitis Elimination in Action, documenting the growing number of partners committed to viral hepatitis elimination and responding to the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan’s call for coordinated and collaborative elimination efforts.
• In collaboration with community and federal partners, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health hosted a three-part webinar series, Syringe Service Programs (SSPs) – A Critical Public Health Intervention, exploring different perspectives on how to successfully develop, implement, and maintain SSPs. 
• We are updating the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan for release in mid-2020, based on stakeholder input at all levels to improve efficiency, effectiveness, coordination, and accountability of viral hepatitis prevention, care, treatment, and cure policies, services and programs with a goal of improving health outcomes for all people. 

Thank you all for your incredible work in 2019. We look forward to 2020 with gratitude and are ready to join you and together, make progress toward viral hepatitis elimination in the United States.

Corinna Dan, RN, MPH
Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service