A student group focused on providing health care will hold an event Friday to educate the UCLA community about the prevalence of Hepatitis B and fundraise for Hepatitis B vaccines in Vietnam.
At the third annual Hepatitis B Awareness Night, Medical, Educational Missions and Outreach at UCLA will raise money to fund screenings and vaccinations administered by medical staff in Vietnam, said Trang Vu, co-president of MEMO and a fourth-year biology student
Last year, the event raised $900 through raffle tickets, and this year MEMO aims to raise more than $1,000. The event, which will take place in Ackerman Grand Ballroom, will feature two musicians popular on YouTube, Travis Garland and Marié Digby. UCLA’s Happy Feet and Deviant Voices A Cappella will also perform.
MEMO at UCLA is a student-led nonprofit organization that aims to provide medical aid and educational opportunities in Vietnam. MEMO provides financial aid and organizes trips to Vietnam to help underserved communities through medical missions and school visits.
MEMO members hope students can spread the word about Hepatitis B and the severity of the problem, Vu said. Hepatitis B can pose a threat to communities in rural Vietnam due to a lack of detection and the high transmission rate from mother to child.
“We hope that a lot more students will be aware of the virus and will spread awareness within their own organizations and the people they hang around,” Vu said. “We have to acknowledge that it is not just an issue in our community but an issue that is affecting many abroad.”
Compiled by Nicholas Yu, Bruin contributor.