Hep-Hep-Hooray for Hepatitis Awareness Week!

Staff across our District marked Hepatitis Awareness Week, embracing this year’s theme: “We’re not waiting”.

Hepatitis Awareness Week runs from 24 – 30 July and includes World Hepatitis Day on July 28. With a cure for hepatitis C and effective treatments for hepatitis B, services and staff have been taking action to raise awareness, break down stigma, and improve access to testing and treatment.

Our District held 21 events aimed at health care workers, patients and community members in hospitals, health services, non-government organisations, and community corrections. Activities included promotional merchandise, quizzes, prizes, information sharing, education and free testing – almost doubling the number of hepatitis C tests completed across SESLHD in just one week!

Over 500 staff members entered the District’s annual hepatitis quiz, and 37 health care workers attended the Play Your Part Hepatitis C training day at Wolli Creek – keen to understand how they can be a part of our elimination efforts. People with lived experience of viral hepatitis have also been sharing their stories with staff and community.

“With a cure for hepatitis C and effective treatments for hepatitis B it is wonderful to see so much work being done in the District during Hepatitis Awareness Week,” said Phill Read, Director of Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Services.

“Carrying on this push to destigmatise, test and treat people in our care across all settings will support us eliminating viral hepatitis in NSW.”

Thanks to staff and the community who made this week a huge success!

For more information on who, when and how to offer testing for viral hepatitis please click here.