District Priority Population Programs provide Hep C testing in the community.

Sydney Local Health District’s Priority Populations Programs team were at Redfern Park in the last week of July for Hepatitis Awareness week. 

Across two days, the team provided information to the community about Hepatitis and offered free Hepatitis C testing services.

“We had over a hundred people from the local community take part, and it was a great turn out,” said Eli Ryan, HIV and Related Programs Health Promotion Officer.

Hepatitis C Point-of-Care Testing is a simple and free finger-prick test that enables participants to receive same day diagnostic results. Individuals who receive a reactive result are then linked with a nurse  to discuss a treatment pathway . 

At the testing site in Redfern Park the referral pathway was to District services located two blocks away at the Redfern Community Health Centre, which ensured accessible and timely follow up care.

“This model of outreach testing enables the team to offer services directly to priority populations in the District community. It also s fast tracks access to Hepatitis C treatment through convenient local services or to their preferred GP,” said Dr Shih-Chi Kao, Director Priority Populations Programs.

Hepatitis is a viral infection that can lead to serious illness when undetected.

Over 200,000 Australians live with chronic hepatitis B, many unaware they have the virus. Hepatitis B is preventable with a vaccine and manageable with regular checkups however the only way to know if a person has contracted hepatitis B is by getting tested.

In contrast, there is an effective and affordable cure for hepatitis C, with minimal to no side effects.  

“Research shows we’ve had great success in treating hepatitis C in Australia. However, it is estaimated more than 74,000 people are still living with the disease,” said Dr Kao.

“There are many organisations we work with to help our communities stay informed and up to date with the latest treatments.”

At Redfern, the team worked in partnership with District Drug Health Services, NUAA NSW and Hepatitis NSW to provide health education andmerchandise, and to direct people to support services.

People from culturally diverse communities were also able to access resources in multiple languages through the state Multicultural HIV and hepatitis service.

Every year hepatitis claims over a million lives worldwide. Hepatitis Awareness Week aims to encourage people who may be at risk to get tested and seek treatment if appropriate.