Janssen 发布新的世界肝炎联盟报告，呼吁改变 90% 以上的乙型

StephenW

Janssen 发布新的世界肝炎联盟报告，呼吁改变 90% 以上的乙型肝炎患者所面临的耻辱和歧视
2021 年 11 月 15 日，星期一，晚上 11:30·8 分钟阅读

“污名和歧视对乙型肝炎患者的影响”报告强调了对工作、学习和旅行的基本人权的影响

圣地亚哥，2021 年 11 月 15 日/美通社/ -- 强生 (Janssen) 旗下的 Janssen 制药公司今天宣布发布世界肝炎联盟 (WHA) 的一份新报告，题为“污名和歧视对人们的影响患有乙型肝炎。”这份由 Janssen 赞助的报告显示，93% 的乙型肝炎患者面临污名1，并强调系统性歧视如何影响他们的心理健康、生活质量、个人自由和人权。该报告呼吁紧急进行政策改革，以解决全球乙肝社区面临的持续污名化和歧视问题。
强生公司的杨森制药公司强生标志（PRNewsfoto/Janssen Pharmaceutical Company）
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson 标志 (PRNewsfoto/Janssen Pharmaceutical Companie)

“有近 3 亿人患有乙型肝炎，而且大多数人每天都面临着耻辱和歧视。这种情况必须改变，”詹森研究与开发有限责任公司传染病全球治疗领域负责人 James Merson 博士说。 “世界肝炎联盟的新报告清楚地提醒我们现代社会面临的健康不平等。在 Janssen，我们通过不懈追求乙型肝炎社区的功能性治疗*来支持乙型肝炎社区，并倡导提高质量受影响者的生命。”

“系统性歧视继续威胁着全世界乙型肝炎患者的生计，”世界肝炎联盟首席执行官 Cary James 说。 “我们的 2021 年污名报告阐明了个人每天面临的现实和挑战。社区、民间社会和政策制定者现在必须采取行动，阻止和结束对乙型肝炎患者的污名和歧视。”

报告呼吁在八个关键领域进行紧急政策改革：

    卫生系统必须向新诊断为慢性乙型肝炎的人提供准确、可访问的信息和及时的服务，包括将他们与适当的同伴支持联系起来。信息和支持的缺乏使那些新诊断出患有慢性乙型肝炎的人承受着巨大的压力，并使他们没有准备好应对终生疾病的负担。

    获得护理的机会必须公平且负担得起，尤其是在全球范围内预防母婴病毒传播的护理。尽管有可用且负担得起的干预措施来预防母婴传播，但仍有 43% 的婴儿无法获得乙型肝炎预防服务。

    必须优先为乙型肝炎患者提供心理健康支持。目前的证据表明，乙型肝炎患者患抑郁症和焦虑症的几率要高得多，这可能导致自残甚至自杀。

    必须优先对所有医疗保健专业人员进行持续的肝炎教育。自 1994 年以来，美国 (US) 的乙型肝炎阳性医疗保健提供者没有记录到乙型肝炎传播。但是，直到 2012 年，美国疾病控制和预防中心 (CDC) 指南才更新，指出乙肝阳性状态不应取消任何人学习或行医的资格。需要持续的教育以实现一个系统，使乙型肝炎患者可以进入医疗保健系统并得到同情而不是恐惧。

    病毒性肝炎检测必须保密，不应成为就业要求。一项关于乙型肝炎污名化研究的系统文献综述发现，多达 30% 的患有这种疾病的人报告说，由于他们的肝炎状况，在工作场所受到歧视。支持保密的政策是确保乙型肝炎患者不会因其医疗状况而受到雇主处罚的关键。

    必须制定、执行反歧视法并符合其目的，并为遭受歧视的人提供充分的追索权，以便通过法律系统寻求正义。乙肝患者每天都面临歧视和解雇。这是对个人人权的侵犯，法律体系必须包括足够的途径来保护乙型肝炎患者免受歧视。
移民政策不得因乙肝患者的身份而限制其自由。世界各地都存在歧视性移民政策，在许多国家，工人被要求乙肝检测呈阴性才能获得工作或居留签证。筛选过程还可以包括强制性的年度重新测试，作为签证续签的条件。

    必须增加对乙型肝炎项目的资助，重点放在减少污名和改善社会公平的研究上。与其他传染病相比，乙肝是研究预算最低的疾病之一。慢性乙型肝炎的功能性治愈*正在取得进展，但需要更高水平的投资才能使其成为能够从中受益的每个人都公平且负担得起的现实。
    报告引用了一位乙肝患者倡导者的话说：“因为我的身份，我失去了出国留学的机会。我的一个朋友失去了一生伴侣的机会，因为她在披露她的诊断后被拒绝了。我认识的其他人失去了他们的工作。消除肝炎对我来说意味着机会。乙肝治愈是每个乙肝患者都渴望的；它也将治愈乙肝耻辱的社会疾病。”

消除与乙型肝炎相关的耻辱和歧视的斗争是一项合作努力，杨森很自豪能与世界卫生大会合作，帮助改善全球数百万人的生活。从帮助改变 HIV 等其他传染病的进程开始，Janssen 将利用这些经验，永不停息地努力减轻乙型肝炎患者的负担并改善他们的健康状况。

要阅读完整的污名报告和政策建议，以解决全球乙肝社区内的污名和歧视问题，请访问 WHA 网站。

StephenW

Janssen Announces New World Hepatitis Alliance Report Calling for Change in the Fight Against Stigma and Discrimination Faced by More Than 90 Percent of People Living with Hepatitis B
Mon, November 15, 2021, 11:30 PM·8 min read

"The Impact of Stigma and Discrimination Affecting People with Hepatitis B" report highlights effects on basic human rights to work, study and travel

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) today announced the launch of a new report from the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) titled "The Impact of Stigma and Discrimination Affecting People with Hepatitis B." The report, sponsored by Janssen, reveals that 93 percent of people living with hepatitis B face stigma1 and highlights how systemic discrimination impacts their mental health, quality of life, individual freedoms and human rights. The report calls for urgent policy reform to address the ongoing stigma and discrimination faced by the global hepatitis B community.
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson logo (PRNewsfoto/Janssen Pharmaceutical Companie)
Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson logo (PRNewsfoto/Janssen Pharmaceutical Companie)

"There are nearly 300 million people living with hepatitis B, and most face daily stigma and discrimination. This must change," said James Merson, Ph.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Infectious Diseases, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "The new report from the World Hepatitis Alliance is a stark reminder of the health inequities faced in our modern society. At Janssen, we stand by the hepatitis B community through our relentless pursuit of a functional cure* for this disease and advocate for improved quality of life for those affected."

"Systemic discrimination continues to threaten the livelihood of people living with hepatitis B around the world," said Cary James, Chief Executive Officer, World Hepatitis Alliance. "Our 2021 Stigma Report sheds light on the realities and challenges individuals face each day living with the condition. It's imperative that communities, civil society and policymakers take action now to discourage and end stigma and discrimination against those living with hepatitis B."

The report calls for urgent policy reform across eight key areas:

    Health systems must provide accurate, accessible information and timely services to people newly diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, including linking them to appropriate peer support. A lack of information and support puts those newly diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B under significant stress and leaves them unprepared to deal with the burden of a lifelong condition.

    Access to care must be equitable and affordable, particularly care to prevent mother-to-child viral transmission worldwide. Despite available and affordable interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission, 43 percent of births happen without access to hepatitis B prevention services.

    Mental health support must be prioritized for people living with hepatitis B. Current evidence demonstrates individuals living with hepatitis B suffer from significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety, which can lead to self-harm and even suicide.

    Ongoing hepatitis education must be prioritized for all healthcare professionals. There have been no hepatitis B transmissions recorded by a hepatitis B positive healthcare provider in the United States (U.S.) since 1994. However, it wasn't until 2012 that U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines were updated to state that a positive hepatitis B status should not disqualify anyone from studying or practicing medicine. Ongoing education is needed to achieve a system in which someone living with hepatitis B can enter a healthcare system and be met with compassion instead of fear.

    Viral hepatitis testing must remain confidential and should not be a requirement for employment. A systematic literature review of hepatitis B stigma research found that up to 30 percent of people living with the condition report workplace discrimination due to their hepatitis status. Policies that support confidentiality are key to ensuring individuals living with hepatitis B are not penalized by employers because of their medical status.

    Anti-discrimination laws must be established, enforced and fit for purpose, with adequate recourse given to people experiencing discrimination to enable the pursuit of justice through the legal system. Individuals living with hepatitis B face daily discrimination and dismissal. This is a violation of an individual's human rights, and the legal system must include sufficient avenues to protect those with hepatitis B from discrimination.
   Immigration policies must not limit the freedoms of people living with hepatitis B because of their status. Discriminatory immigration policies exist around the world, and in many countries, workers are required to test negative for hepatitis B to obtain a work or residence visa. Screening processes can also include compulsory annual re-testing as a condition for visa renewal.

    Funding for hepatitis B programs must be increased, focusing on research to reduce stigma and improve equity in society. Compared with other infectious diseases, hepatitis B has one of the lowest research budgets. Progress is being made toward a functional cure* for chronic hepatitis B, but higher levels of investment are required to make this an equitable and affordable reality to everyone who could benefit from it.
    The report quotes a patient advocate living with hepatitis B: "I lost my opportunity to study abroad because of my status. A friend of mine lost the chance to have a life partner because she was rejected upon disclosing her diagnosis. Other people I know lost their jobs. The elimination of hepatitis for me means opportunity. A hepatitis B cure is something everyone living with hepatitis B longs for; it would also be a cure for the social illness of hepatitis B stigma."

The fight to eliminate stigma and discrimination associated with hepatitis B is a collaborative effort, and Janssen is proud to collaborate with the WHA to help improve the millions of lives who are affected globally. From helping change the course of other infectious diseases such as HIV, Janssen will leverage these learnings and never stop working to reduce the burden and improve health outcomes for those living with hepatitis B.

To read the full Stigma Report and policy recommendations to tackle stigma and discrimination within the global hepatitis B community, please visit the WHA site.