Hepatitis ACT CEO Sarah Ahmed wants to see hepatitis eliminated in Canberra by 2030. Photo: Supplied.
Canberra is home to 1068 people with hepatitis C and more than 4000 living with hepatitis B. One community organisation is looking to change that.
Hepatitis ACT is working to make Canberra the first city in Australia to eliminate hepatitis C. Its target date: 2030.
One way the charity’s aiming to achieve its goal is through a new 12-month initiative at the ACT Community Corrections’ city office, allowing clients on corrections or parole orders to access free, confidential testing and treatment for hepatitis C while fulfilling their reporting obligations.
The pilot also provides continuity of care for detainees transitioning from the Alexander Maconochie Centre back into the community.
Hepatitis ACT CEO Sarah Ahmed said this was about removing barriers that prevented people in the justice system from accessing healthcare.
“Hepatitis C is now curable, yet too many people, particularly those with complex or marginalised lives, remain undiagnosed or untreated,” she said.
“By offering free, fast, and confidential testing and treatment in a community-based corrections setting, we are not only delivering on public health goals, but we are also ensuring that all Canberrans, regardless of their circumstances, can access the care they need.”
An evaluation will be conducted after 12 months to assess its impact and explore opportunities to expand the model.
Hepatitis B and C infect and inflame the liver. The infections can severely damage the organ if left untreated.
Hepatitis C is a curable condition. Its treatment has made big leaps in recent years, becoming more effective and cheaper since its inclusion on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Hepatitis B is not curable, but the condition is manageable. Early treatment can help prevent some of the long-term complications associated with the virus and a vaccine can help prevent the infection in the first place.
Ms Ahmed said Hepatitis ACT was close to eliminating the virus in Canberra, but also needed the wider community’s help.
“All of us need to take collective action; we need to look after our liver. We want to empower Canberrans to look after their liver through awareness, through prevention of bloodborne viruses, through testing and treatment,” she said.
But Ms Ahmed said most residents were leaving themselves untreated.
“There are around 1000 people in Canberra that live with hepatitis C, but one in three have not been cured yet even though treatment is simple,” she said.
“More than 3000 Canberrans have lived with chronic hepatitis B and we just don’t often talk about it.
“We want to bring liver health as a conversation topic, where we talk about free testing and provide information. We want to say come and have a conversation with us with zero judgement involved.”
Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation & Advocacy (CAHMA) works closely with Hepatitis ACT to contain the spread of the virus among recreational drug users.
CAHMA executive director Chris Gough said Australia’s harm minimisation programs had made a major difference.
“In the last generation or so, there’s been a real increase in knowledge of how to avoid picking up hepatitis C by using sterile injecting equipment,” he said.
“We’ve got a really good rate of people using sterile equipment as opposed to sharing unsterilised equipment or equipment that’s been used by someone else, which is something we should be really proud of in Australia.”
Mr Gough said part of the organisation’s work was not letting hepatitis fall through the cracks of public consciousness.
“We need to keep educating people in the community.”
O’liver will help spread the message of liver health this World Hepatitis Day. Photo: Hepatitis ACT.
Hepatitis ACT is organising an education day on Monday, 28 July, as part of World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness about the virus, teach us how to better care for our livers, and encourage us to get tested or treated.
Hepatitis ACT advises a number of ways to keep yourself and others safe:
- Get vaccinated for hepatitis B.
- Use new, sterile injecting equipment.
- Don’t share razors, toothbrushes or nail clippers.
- Use sterile equipment for tattoos, piercings and medical care.
- Practice safer sex – use condoms.
- If pregnant, get tested early.
- Get tested and treated if at risk of hepatitis B and C.
To mark World Hepatitis Day, the group will light up several buildings in Canberra green.
It will also roll out its new liver-shaped mascot O’Liver to help break the stigma when talking about hepatitis.
The education day includes a pop-up on City Walk in Civic where you can grab a free coffee with O’Liver, as well as a community breakfast at the Arboretum.
More information about services, testing and treatment options is available at the Hepatitis ACT website.
