Roche Joins Forces With Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church to Provide Free Hepatitis C Testing to the...( Faith-based program provides ministry...)

Faith-based program provides ministry with tools and information to sustain

efforts in hepatitis C education, screening and testing

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Roche representatives will work together with the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church from Saturday, August 18 - Sunday, August 19 to educate the church community about the hepatitis C virus (HCV), including risk factors, the importance of getting tested and possible treatment options.

Preparations will begin on Friday, August 17 when ministry leaders, church volunteers, and Roche representatives convene to review education and testing logistics regarding HCV.

"African Americans have the highest rate of infection with hepatitis C in the country. We are committed to educate and provide free hepatitis C testing to the members of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church and other local residents to prevent future infections," said Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Alyn E. Waller, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA.

For the past four years, Roche has worked primarily with African-American community churches nationwide to establish HCV testing programs in congregations across the country. In 2006, screening events took place in 30 communities of faith, and an additional 80 events are scheduled in 2007, with the program also extending to Hispanic and Egyptian churches.

"At Roche, we are dedicated to improving the lives of patients and to the communities where they live and worship," said Frank Griffith, Brand Director, Interferons Marketing, Roche. "By providing this congregation with the tools and information it needs to execute HCV education and screenings, it can successfully sustain this valuable community program in the future."

About HCV

According to the American Liver Foundation, more than four million people in the United States are or have been infected with hepatitis C, and an estimated 70 percent are not aware they have the virus.

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SOURCE Roche Copyright©2007 PR Newswire.

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