Hepatitis C Strategy

Transcription

1 Hepatitis C Strategy

2 What is the issue? Globally there are estimated to be 180 million (3%) people with hepatitis C 1, 216,000 people living with hepatitis C in the UK and of these around 50% are unaware that they have the virus 2. Around 60,000 people in London have been exposed to hepatitis C and it is estimated that around 40% have not been diagnosed and therefore not aware that they have the virus 3. In London, it is estimated that 60% of the people who inject drugs (PWID) have hepatitis C and the occurrence in people from South Asia is high with around 93/100,000 people having the virus. Therefore those whose place of origin is Pakistan, Bangladesh or India South Asia are at risk. 4 Evidence suggests that men who have sex with men are at risk and have higher rates of hepatitis C. 5 The rates of tests among people from Eastern Europe has risen in recent years and of these 5.1% have tested positive. 6 Contaminated injecting equipment still accounts for the majority of new hepatitis cases and around 32% of PWID share injecting equipment 7. 1 & 2 Hep C Info, Understanding hepatitis C and staying safe, Danny Morris and Magdalena Harris 3 PHE London Hepatitis C Bulletin 2nd August & 6 PHE Hepatitis C in England 2017 Report Working to eliminate hepatitis C as a major public health threat 5 & 7 PHE Hepatitis C in London 2015 report 2

3 What we want to achieve The treatment for hepatitis C has come a long way in the last few years and is still evolving. In treating hepatitis C it is essential that people get the right information and treatment at the right time and this is where we can help. We support the World Health Organisations (WHOs) target to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030 and this strategy shows how we are supporting WHO to reach this target. Blenheim is at the centre of the growing demands for action concerning the failure to treat those with hepatitis C. We are involved in an emergent strategy to support, facilitate and enable those focusing on hepatitis C to achieve the best possible outcomes. The Blenheim hepatitis C strategy has four strands: Raising awareness Prevention Testing Support into treatment 3

4 What we want to achieve Raising Awareness We will provide ongoing training to all staff on hepatitis C including how they can support people into treatment. Every service user will be provided with appropriate and accessible information on hepatitis C, testing and treatment. Every service will display posters and publicity materials promoting awareness of Hepatitis C testing and treatment. These will aim to reflect the communities most at risk. Prevention Blenheim services will actively promote their needle exchanges to communities most at risk and under respresented groups such as steriod users and sex workers. 4

5 What we want to achieve cont... Testing Last year 92% of Blenheim s new service users that inject drugs or have previously injected drugs had a hepatitis C test. Our aim by 2020 is to test 100% of new service users. Support into Treatment All services will have documented pathways into further testing and hepatitis C treatment Volunteer roles will be developed with the express purpose of supporting those that test positive for hepatitis C into further testing and treatment. We will particularly target volunteer roles to communities that are most at risk of hepatitis C. Support into treatment will be available for all those who test positive as well as those who may have been diagnosed previously and dropped out of hepatitis C treatment. 5

6 Contact Us Get Involved Follow Us Blenheim Central Office 210 Wandsworth Road London, SW8 2JU As a charity we are committed to helping others, but to keep achieving this we also need the help and support of people who share our vision. We would love for you to get involved, whether through fundraising or making a donation, showing your support via social media, signing up to our newsletter, or even volunteering and experiencing how we make a difference for yourself. Visit our website to find TheBlenheimCDP Blenheim CDP, a charity registered in England and Wales (293959)