Thursday, 28 July marks World Hepatitis Day 2022, an important opportunity to give visibility to, and raise awareness of viral hepatitis, as well to drive better outcomes for people affected by viral hepatitis. World Hepatitis Day is one of only eight official health days declared by the World Health Organization. The WHO theme for this year is “Hepatitis Can’t Wait”.
There is a continuing urgency to redouble efforts to eliminate hepatitis as a global public health threat if Australian and NSW targets are to be achieved. Fortunately, 2022 has seen a resumption of, and/or increase in, services for testing of and treatment of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Similarly, education and community contact efforts have also picked up significantly.
The continuing public health issues generated by the COVID pandemic however remain an ever-present challenge to health care providers and services, community organisations and medical professionals seeking to reach people living with, or at-risk of, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Viral hepatitis doesn’t care about other health crises. Left unchecked both hepatitis B and hepatitis C will continue to find new people to infect and continue to damage the livers of those already living with the viruses.
Hepatitis NSW CEO, Mr Steven Drew said, “Advances have been made in Australia and New South Wales on many fronts for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C. While much has been achieved through the combined and concerted efforts of community health organisations, clinicians, health departments, and researchers, we all agree that there is still much to be done to meet elimination targets in this country.”
In NSW, World Hepatitis Day falls within Hepatitis Awareness Week which runs 25-30 July. The week includes a range of local and state-wide activities, events, and initiatives to improve population outcomes for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Thanks to the game changing direct acting anti-viral (DAA) medications, people have the chance to be free of the virus, and to also be healthier, to be part of the future of their children, grandchildren and loved ones. So far, over 30,000 people in New South Wales have started treatment for hepatitis C since 2016.
Mr Drew said, “The major activity this year in NSW is the roll out of the refreshed HEP CURED health promotion campaign. The campaign uses simple messaging and strong imagery to promote the availability and effectiveness of cures for hepatitis C. The core message instils a sense of connection with loved ones and significant others.
“This year, HEP CURED goes beyond general awareness raising, with Hepatitis NSW partnering with Local Health Districts to deliver local events connected to the campaign. This includes deploying our lived experience hepatitis C peers, and staff, to many areas across the state. The peers are invaluable at building a bridge between members of the community and clinical staff, helping to reduce the fear of stigma while also explaining the testing process, and the benefits and ease of hepatitis C cure.”
Another exciting addition to the campaign, is the HEP CURED mobile mural. The mural gets the message out for everyone to see, and encourages them to live their best life, free of hepatitis. Boldly stating the HEP CURED message, this colourful, eye-catching mural has been painted on one side of a campaign billboard mounted to a truck. The HEP CURED mobile mural is taking the successful state-wide hepatitis C treatment awareness raising campaign on the road, literally, around Sydney and regional areas. It will be the backdrop for a World Hepatitis Day launch at Sydney Hospital, before hitting the road again.
“Around 40,000 people in NSW are living with hepatitis C and remain unaware of these game-changing treatment options and pathways,” said Mr Drew. “The HEP CURED Mobile Mural aims to get the message out there for everyone to see and encourage them to live their best life.”
For hepatitis B, while there is a vaccine, a cure is not currently available. Upwards of 80,000 people in NSW live with this virus in NSW. Like hepatitis C, if left unchecked, hepatitis B can cause significant damage to the liver including cirrhosis and cancer.
“Fortunately, a treatment, if required, is available which keeps the virus in check and significantly reduces the risk to health and the liver,” said Mr Drew. “The caveat to this good news is that regular annual testing for people living with the virus is essential and many in the affected communities are unaware of this essential health requirement.”
Efforts to eliminate hepatitis B as a public health concern faces some similar, but many different hurdles to hepatitis C. Mr Drew said, “This can be done but not first without clinical and community education, and by breaking down barriers caused by stigma, as well as using appropriate cultural and in-language engagement.”
To this end, Hepatitis NSW is proud to launch this World Hepatitis Day, Write to B Heard: Hepatitis B Stories from the Chinese and Korean Communities. This tri-lingual book – in English, Korean and Chinese – contains twelve personal stories detailing lived experience, from people in NSW communities, effected by hepatitis B.
In her foreword to the book, Dr Alice Lee, Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Macquarie University and Concord Hospital, said, “Sharing personal stories amongst a community that aspires to (the goal of improving) the life of each and every person affected by hepatitis B, as well as their families, is one of the many steps in breaking down these barriers (of treatment misconceptions and stigma).”
Write to B Heard is one part of Hepatitis NSW’s ongoing work in community engagement around and efforts to increase knowledge and testing and reduce stigma.
Mr Drew said, “I encourage people to contact the Hepatitis NSW Infoline on 1800 803 990 f
