Esta ley declara el 19 de mayo de cada año como el "Día Nacional de la Prueba de Hepatitis C" en Puerto Rico. Designa al Departamento de Salud como la entidad encargada de su implementación, promoción y celebración, y ordena la difusión de información y la realización de actividades especiales, incluyendo pruebas de sangre. También exhorta al Gobernador a emitir una proclama anual.
(Approved January 3, 2003)
To decree the "National Hepatitis C Testing Day," set forth the date, and designate the Department of Health as the government entity in charge of its implementation, promotion, and celebration.
May 19, 2002 has been internationally declared as World Hepatitis Day. Hepatitis is a disease that is characterized by inflammation of the liver. Currently, there are several types of hepatitis, among which the most common are Hepatitis A, B, and C. Both Hepatitis B and C may produce serious and permanent damage to the liver. Persons with higher risk of contagion are: health workers, persons with multiple sexual partners, intravenous drug users, any person with tattoos, or body piercings, persons who received blood transfusions before donated blood examinations were performed, and persons who are in close contact with persons who are infected, or who have had sexual intercourse with an infected person. In the general population, approximately one third of the cases are the result of unknown causes.
Hepatitis A is the most benign form of this disease. Most persons recover after six (6) months of having contracted this disease. Hepatitis B is one of the most serious types of hepatitis. It is more common and contagious than AIDS. At present, it is estimated that approximately 1.3 million Americans are infected with Hepatitis B. At this time, there are a vaccine and a cure for this type of hepatitis. On the other hand, Hepatitis C currently
affects around 3.5 million Americans. In a large majority of patients it becomes a chronic condition. This type of hepatitis has no cure. Both types of hepatitis, if not treated on time, have a high probability of developing and resulting in cirrhosis, cancer of the liver, or even in hepatic failure.
Most persons who contract this disease do not present recognizable symptoms initially. The only way to identify this disease with certainty is by means of a blood test. Due to the high incidence of this disease, and to such a common mode of contagion, it is necessary to make the general citizenry become aware of same, and motivated to have the test performed, as well as to prevent contagion.
For the aforementioned reasons, and for the welfare of public health, this Legislative Assembly declares May 19 as "National Hepatitis C Testing Day."
Section 1.-May 19 of each year is hereby declared as "National Hepatitis C Testing Day" in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Section 2.-The Governor, by means of proclamation, shall exhort the people of Puerto Rico to have the Hepatitis C test performed annually.
Section 3.-The Department of Health is hereby ordered to broadcast information regarding the significance of said date by means of the celebration of special activities in which the citizens receive orientation and have blood tests performed.
Section 4.-It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to forward a copy of this Act to the Puerto Rico representative in the Pan-American Health Organization.
Section 5.-This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 42 (H.B. 2862) of the $4^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to decree the "National Hepatitis C Testing Day," set forth the date, and designate the Department of Health as the government entity in charge of its implementation, promotion, and celebration, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $31^{ ext {st }}$ of January of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director