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WASHINGTON -- In observance of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, three health organizations held a Congressional health briefing at the US Capitol last month. The hosts, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Hepatitis B Foundation and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), invited health leaders and experts to share data and personal experiences with members of Congress and the public.

“During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we celebrate the accomplishments of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders,” said Jeffrey Caballero, executive director of AAPCHO. “We also want to highlight, however, the misconception that all (these) populations are financially successful and in good health. While this may be the case for a segment of this population, a significant portion of the population is low-income, uninsured and disproportionately affected by a range of health issues.”

The health groups worked together to push for funding and other provisions from the government. Deeana Jang, policy director of APIAHF, presented such bills as the Legal Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act. The act would eliminate the five-year waiting period and give states the option offering federally funded Medicaid to children and pregnant women who are legal U.S. residents.

Jang also said her organization would like to reintroduce the National Hepatitis B Act, which US Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) is currently advocating. The act would expand education, screening, and vaccination of children and adults at risk of developing the disease.

“The eradication of the hepatitis B disease is a big concern in the Asian American community, but to do this we need more funds to support research organizations like the NIH,” said Timothy Block of the Hepatitis B Foundation. Block said among the Asian American population, approximately 1 in 10 individuals are infected with the Hepatitis B virus.

The conference also provided literature and speeches on issues related to family violence prevention, HIV and diabetes. Judy Mikami and Josephine Manaba flew in from Molokai, Hawaii to share about their work with the Native Hawaiian Health Care System for the Molokai, Kalaupapa and Lanai islands.

They focused their speech on the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes for Asian Americans, particularly in Hawaii. According to Mikami and Manabi, the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program proved that type 2 diabetes could be delayed or prevented in overweight adults by losing a small amount of weight.

“Many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders don’t realize their weight may place them at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes,” Caballero said. “That’s why it’s so important that we take small steps that will lead to big rewards – a long healthy, life to spend with family and friends.”

Mikami and Manabi work together to help native Hawaiians in a personal way; they meet one-on-one with patients and offer tailored informational sessions in their area. Both agreed that to establish a health organization, “you need good people, you need to know who to direct cases to and finally, you need money.”

But for the most part, Mikami and Manabi are a minority. Dr. Ho Luong Tran, president and CEO of APIAHF, expressed concern that health providers and policy makers fail to recognize APIA’s as an at-risk population. Tran said the APIAHF is a program that aims at providing Asian Americans with the highest possible level of health and well-being, and focuses on attaining universal health coverage for all U.S.-residents.

            “Information regarding the seriousness of these diseases, risk factors and prevention strategies are not reaching APIA communities,” Tran said. “It is our hope that this health briefing will help change that.”