In commemoration this May of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and Hepatitis Awareness Month in the United States, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco wishes to invite members of the Filipino Community to join its upcoming program, Free Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis Education and Screening Community Event on May 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center, 447 Sutter Street, San Francisco.

This event — a joint project of the Consulate, Hep B Free San Francisco Bay Area, North East Medical Services, and On Lok — aims to bring awareness to the adverse effects of Hepatitis B, and highlight the importance of getting tested especially among AAPIs. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 12 AAPIs has chronic Hepatitis B, which causes liver cancer.

The community event will also offer free education on and screening for Tuberculosis. According to the 2020 Annual Reports of the San Francisco and San Mateo Public Health Departments, AAPIs, especially Filipinos, had the highest Tuberculosis incidence in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.

Free take-home COVID-19 test kits and N95 masks will also be given away, until supplies last, during the community event.