USA - Students at United Technologies Center in Bangor are "cooking up" viral hepatitis education. They hope to raise awareness of viral hepatitis testing and vaccinations here in Maine. They are cooking gingerbread cookies and decorating them with the phrase "Am I number 12?" because one in 12 people worldwide are infected with viral hepatitis B or C. Also, because not everyone has symptoms, many people are unaware of thier infection and do not receive proper treatment.
The students will deliver cookies to people potentially at risk around the Bangor area, including the homeless shelter, Eastern Maine Aids Network, and Riverstone in Brewer.
"Along with some materials to hand out to them about potentiallly at risk behaviors which would include: ever had injected drugs, tattooing if you ever went to an unlicensed place, or if you share any blood or body fluids. Those are sort of; if not protected, at risk behaviors. So we want to raise awareness about what would make you at risk for contracting hepatitis," said Patty Hamilton, the Public Health Director for Bangor Health and Community Services.
For more information on where to get tested, click on the link to the right of the page or call the vaccination center at 1(800)821-5821.
