#90 HepSA Community News

Community News

#90 • June 2021

WORLD HEPATITIS DAY Plus PROMPt Testing and more

FREE!

Please take one

Hepatitis SA provides free information and education on viral hepatitis, and support to people living with viral hepatitis.

Street Address: 3 Hackney Road, Hackney Postal Address:

PO Box 782 Kent Town SA 5071

Phone:

Fax:

(08) 8362 8443 1800 437 222 (08) 8362 8559

Online: www.hepsa.asn.au HepSAY Blog: hepsa.asn.au/blog Library: hepsa.asn.au/library @HepatitisSA @hep_sa Resources: issuu.com/hepccsa Email: admin@hepatitissa.asn.au Cover: Derived from image by Freepik.com Correspondence: Please send all correspondence to The Editor at PO Box 782, Kent Town, SA 5071, or email editor@hepatitissa.asn.au.

Editor: James Morrison Some photos in this publication have been altered to disguise identifying details of members of the public.

Contents

1 HepSA Volunteers HEPATITIS SA BOARD Chair Arieta Papadelos Vice Chair Bill Gaston Secretary Sharon Eves Treasurer Michael Larkin Ordinary Members Julio Alejo Catherine Ferguson Bernie McGinnes Sam Raven Kerry Paterson (CEO)

2 PROMPt Testing 5 Smoking Cessation

Trial 6 World Hepatitis Day 8 The 2030 Accord 10 Education Update 12 Hep C Self-Testing 14 In Our Library 16 W hat’s On? / CNP Info Disclaimer: Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Hepatitis SA. Information contained in this newsletter is not intended to take the place of medical advice given by your doctor or specialist.

We welcome contributions from Hepatitis SA members and the general public.

SA Health has contributed funds towards this program.

ISSN 2651-9011 (Online)

National Volunteer Week Celebrating our awesome volunteers at HepSA

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n May we celebrated National Volunteer Week (20–26 May) with some of our awesome volunteers.

Fred, Debra, Kath and Dean each received a Premier’s Certificate of recognition for their outstanding volunteer service, and a certificate of appreciation for their continuing contribution and dedication with Hepatitis SA. A small COVID-safe gathering of staff cheered them as they opened gifts: small tokens of our sincere gratitude. They each received a mug with the HepSA logo on one side and, on the other side, an arrow pointing toward the person’s face, with the text, “This is what an awesome volunteer looks like!”.

Since its inception as the Hepatitis C Council of South Australia, Hepatitis SA has relied on its volunteers in order to survive and thrive, and they provide vital support staffing our Helpline, distributing resources, and helping at information stalls and events.

To our volunteers, Hepatitis SA would like to say that we literally couldn’t manage without you. Thank you from all of us. v

June 2021 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90

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PROMPt Testing

Rapid, easy, needle-free hepatitis testing

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uppose for a moment that you are one of thousands of people around the world each year who confront the possibility that they may have contracted the hepatitis C virus. You’re worried, perhaps confused, and have a million other things on your mind. Where do you start?

You’ll need a blood test, so you go to a GP, only to find you need to make another appointment—usually at another location—to have the blood test done. And then, after an agonising wait (an average of a week), you go to another appointment with the GP to find out the result.

then return to the GP for the result—to find out if you have a hepatitis C infection. This is because antibodies tell us if you’ve had the virus in your body, but don’t tell us if you have a current infection.

Although interferon-based treatments have thankfully been displaced by effective, short-term and very tolerable oral therapies, there are still significant obstacles to hepatitis C treatment in Australia. Described above is the process to determine a person’s hepatitis C status under Medicare rules, and it is no wonder that many people don’t make it to the

If you discover you have hepatitis C antibodies, you’ll need to go through this process again—blood test,

final appointment to find out their diagnosis: life just gets in the way! If you’re a person who finds blood tests difficult and the thought of needles makes you go dry in the mouth, it’s possible you might not even make it to the first blood test for a very long time if at all.

Imagine if all of these encounters could be compressed into a single appointment: a person could have a test with blood taken from a finger prick rather than a needle, get the result, and be prescribed treatment for hepatitis C all in one visit to their healthcare provider.

The PROMPt study aims to make this a reality in three locations across Adelaide during a 12-month trial period.

With generous funding from the Paul Ramsey Foundation and with support from the Burnet Institute, PROMPt is a collaboration between multiple stakeholders that includes SA Health, Hepatitis SA, Serco Asia Pacific, the Department for Correctional Services, Mental Health Services and Drug and Alcohol Services SA. Two rapid tests are used in the project: the SD Bioline hepatitis C antibody test and

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HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90 • June 2021

the Genexpert hepatitis C viral load test*.

The antibody test doesn’t require any special machinery, and takes a minimum of 5 minutes to process. It works similarly to other rapid tests, like pregnancy tests. One line indicates a negative result, with two lines indicating a positive. Although this test doesn’t yet have TGA approval for use in Australia, it’s highly accurate, used widely overseas, and PROMPt has special permission to use it.

ABOVE: the SD Bioline kit for finger prick test kit BELOW: the Genexpert analysis machine

If antibodies are detected with the presence of two lines, the hepatitis C viral load test needs to be done to find out if a person has a current infection. This is because, as mentioned above, antibodies can’t tell us whether or not a person has a current infection, only that their body has had to fight the hepatitis C infection at some stage in their life (perhaps years earlier), and their immune system has created antibodies in the process. The hepatitis C virus test is run in a small mobile laboratory unit that needs * For more on these and other rapid hepatitis tests, see our previous issue.

June 2021 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90

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power and takes just under an hour to get a result.

Both tests require a small sample of blood taken from a finger prick, using the same kind of lancet that people with diabetes use to test blood sugar. As no needles are used, one of the aims of the study is to find out if the finger prick testing method increases the number of people who opt to get tested for hepatitis C in the locations where the study has been implemented.

Weekly testing sessions have been held in a prison, a mental health unit and a drug and alcohol withdrawal unit since October last year, with a nurse and experienced peer educators from Hepatitis SA. The peer educators

conduct the testing and share their life experiences with hepatitis C and treatment with the clients through short 10- to 15-minute encounters.

So who can be part of this trial? Anyone who is staying in one of these facilities can volunteer, and there are no special criteria for testing.

People come up for testing for all sorts of reasons and it’s through sharing these with the PROMPt team that opportunities for education often arise.

Feedback from participants has been positive, including one who said, “A lot of users don’t have veins, so a prick of the finger is nothing. I was recently tested and they took

Most people who discover they have a current infection commence hepatitis C therapy within a few weeks after diagnosis with assistance from the PROMPt team. So far, over 700 people have participated in testing that will continue until the end of October this year.

The PROMPt team are grateful to everyone who has participated in this research project and generously shared their stories with us. v Lucy Ralton Nurse Consultant

PROMPt

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three or four times until they got blood. I don’t want hep C again, I want a healthy life!”.

Another person told us, “I get anxiety really bad, so if I’ve got hep C I want to know now so I can deal with it.”

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90 • June 2021

Th Cen H

Quit Smoking

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Smoking cessation study open

rying to quit smoking cigarettes? There is an exciting new quit-smoking study being conducted by Flinders University!

In early May, Flinders University opened participant recruitment to a groundbreaking new quit-smoking study to assist smokers on low incomes to quit. The Resilience Interventions for Smoking Cessation (RISC) study is researching whether mindfulness or goal-setting training combined with peer support can help smokers to build their resilience and help them quit smoking.

This randomised controlled trial is open to adults who are regular smokers and are currently planning to quit. To participate you will need your own smartphone, meet an income test, and agree to participate in the online study for 18 months.

Participation is completely free and open nationally.

The way a randomised controlled trial works is that some participants will get the ‘intervention’ being tested, and some participants will get the ‘control’, which is basic standard of care.

In the first six months of this study, these novel approaches will be taught to participants in these three study groups via eight online small group sessions delivered by trained facilitators. In the second six months, these participants will then be connected to a blog community with other study participants which will be led by ex-smoker peer mentors. This peer support will provide an opportunity for important conversations on topics such as the lived experience of managing cravings and adopting a new identity as a non-smoker.

Participants can interact with this blog as little or as much as they like.

The great news is that participants in all four groups will receive referral to current best-practice services available in Australia to support smokers to quit, such as behavioural

counselling through Quitline, nicotine replacement therapy and stop-smoking medications.

At the end of the study, all participants will receive free, ongoing access to a mindfulness app for their mobile phone which can be used to support them on their quitting journey. There are other incentives for participants, such as a lottery for supermarket vouchers with a total value of $900!

For more information, you can visit facebook.com/ stopcigsnow or email the study team at RISC_study@ flinders.edu.au.

But wait, there is even more excitement! This study is also currently recruiting ex-smokers for the peer mentoring phase! These paid roles are for approximately 1 day a week for about 10 months, starting from August 2021. These peer mentors will engage with study participants by posting updates to the blog and responding to questions, suggesting strategies and offering encouragement.

Peer mentors will also work in partnership with the study team in a codesign approach on other aspects of the study.

Multiple roles are available so if you are interested to learn more, please email elissa. mortimer@flinders.edu.au. v

Illustration by Freepik

In the Flinders study, smokers will be randomised to one of four groups. One of these will be the control group, and the other three groups will test the

novel approaches such as mindfulness or setting realistic goals training.

Elissa Mortimer June 2021 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90

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World Hepatitis Day 2021 Hepatitis Can’t Wait

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July is World Hepatitis Day. This year, the global and Australian national message is “Hepatitis can’t wait”.

COVID-19 has resulted in a common outcome in this aspect of healthcare—people have been putting off seeing their healthcare providers.

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Unfortunately, there can be dire consequences for some conditions if you wait.

Hepatitis is one of those.

Worldwide, someone dies from hepatitis-related illness every 30 seconds.

In Australia, hepatitis is a leading cause of liver cancer and liver cancer is the fastest

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 88 • December 2020

growing cause of cancer deaths. Over a quarter of a million people in Australia are living with hepatitis B and over a third of them don’t know that they have it. More worrying is the fact that only one in five of these people are in medical care. The expert advice is for all people with

worldhepatitisday.org.au chronic hepatitis B to receive regular monitoring and timely treatment as needed.

We are nowhere near the conservative national target to have half of people with chronic hepatitis B to be in medical care by the end of next year.

Not everyone with chronic hepatitis B needs to be on treatment, but experts estimate that about a quarter will need to be on antiviral therapy to minimize adverse outcomes. Left unmanaged and untreated, hepatitis B can lead to liver failure or liver cancer. In 2018, there were more than 400 hepatitis B-related deaths in Australia.

While the number of Australians living with hepatitis C has reduced because of highly effective new treatments, there are still around 130,000 people with chronic hepatitis C— the leading cause for liver transplants in Australia.

One in five of these people don’t know they have hepatitis

C, or that a simple course of tablets for eight or twelve weeks could rid them of the virus damaging their liver.

Australia is one of the countries on track to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030 – a World Health Organization target but the number of people starting hepatitis C treatment has been falling after the initial surge when the new drugs became publicly available in 2016.

Furthermore, the Doherty Institute WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis reported a 19% drop in hepatitis testing in 2020, compared to the same time in 2019. This drop in diagnosis and resulting management will have flow-on effects on progress towards achieving the WHO target.

In SA, there are over 8,000 people with chronic hepatitis C and 14,000 with chronic hepatitis B. While treatment uptake for hepatitis C has been above the national

average in SA, more than half of South Australians with hepatitis C are still unnecessarily living with a disease that can be cured in 8 or 12 weeks.

With hepatitis B, SA’s progress is below national average, with only 16% of people with chronic hepatitis B receiving medical care and 5% on treatment—a long way off from the national targets of 50% and 20% respectively.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are infectious diseases with possible serious consequences for those with these chronic conditions, but they are treatable and preventable. With an effective vaccine for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C, both viruses can be eliminated. The challenge is to find those who are not diagnosed, or not in medical care and offer appropriate pathways for them to manage their condition.

Hepatitis can’t wait. v

Sources

• worldhepatitisday.org.au

• hepatitisaustralia.com/hepatitis-statistics

• National Surveillance for Hepatitis B Indicators – Measuring the progress towards the targets of the National Hepatitis B Strategy – Annual Report 2017, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Doherty Institute.

• public.tableau.com/app/profile/nationalhepmapping/viz/HepatitisBMappingPortal2018_15939357983460/State

• public.tableau.com/app/profile/nationalhepmapping/viz/HepatitisCMappingPortal2019_15939359599820/State

For more information on World Hepatitis Day 2021, visit worldhepatitisday.org for global campaign information and hepatitisaustralia.com/world-hepatitis-day for the national campaign.

June 2021 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90

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The 2030 Accord

Action needed now to eliminate viral hepatitis in the next 10 years

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e live in a world built upon achievements. We have travelled to the moon, developed vaccines, created the internet and even cloned life itself. Today we have the opportunity to create our next greatest achievement: the elimination of viral hepatitis. The journey has already started.

Since viral hepatitis was discovered 50 years ago, highly effective vaccines, treatments and a cure have been developed. Hepatitis B has a vaccine and hepatitis C has a cure.

Yet, worldwide, 95% of those living with these conditions

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are unaware. Less than 1% access treatment, and 1.4 million people die each year.

Furthermore, we cannot let the understandable global and Australian focus on COVID-19 take resources and time away from the vital work of testing and treating people living with viral hepatitis.

We are at a turning point.

In 2016, 194 Member States of the World Health Organization made a historic commitment to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.

At the 69th World Health Assembly, all governments unanimously voted to adopt the first ever Global

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90 • June 2021

Viral Hepatitis Strategy, signalling the greatest global commitment in viral hepatitis to date.

The Strategy set a goal of eliminating hepatitis B and C by 2030 and includes a set of prevention and treatment targets projected to save over 7 million lives.

In the five years since this strategy was launched, we have already achieved so much as a community. There were 188,951 Australians living with hepatitis C in 2016, but in the five years that have followed more than 40% have been cured. The coverage rate for hepatitis B immunisation in 12-monthold babies now exceeds 95% in Australia.

But for this good work to continue, and for viral hepatitis to be eliminated by 2030, it needs to be a national health priority. The first step to this is the VH2021 Action Plan (see opposite), supported by numerous organisations in the liver health sector, both community and research bodies.

You can learn more and add your voice to those working together to eliminate viral hepatitis in Australia at 2030accord.org.au. v

The elimination of hepatitis B and hepatitis C by 2030 can be Australia’s next major preventive and public health success.

To lead the collaborative efforts needed, there are six actions that the Australian Government can take by the end of 2022:

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Ensure Australia achieves its 2022 national hepatitis C treatment target by: • Allocating additional investment to implement the Minister for Health’s commitment to find 50,000 people living with hepatitis C by the end of 2022 and engaging them in curative treatment.

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Ensure Australia achieves its 2022 national hepatitis B targets by: • Partnering meaningfully with people impacted by hepatitis B in national policy development and implementation by: working with Hepatitis Australia to develop an engagement mechanism codesigned with people impacted by hepatitis B.

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Continue to act as a global and regional leader in viral hepatitis elimination by: • Supporting the renewal of the Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis.

• Reaffirming Australia’s commitment to the 2030 viral hepatitis elimination goal.

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Ensure Australia maintains a clear viral hepatitis national policy direction consistent with its global elimination commitment by: • Maintaining two disease specific and separate National Strategies for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. • Have an explicit goal of 2030 elimination in the next iteration of the National Hepatitis B Strategy and National Hepatitis C Strategy.

• Increase the length of the next National Hepatitis B Strategy and National Hepatitis C Strategy to 2030, with a mid-point review.

• Invest in the implementation of the National Hepatitis B Strategy and National Hepatitis C Strategy to ensure targets are met.

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Keep Australia at the fore of lifesaving research by: • Prioritising viral hepatitis, including a hepatitis B cure, in the Medical Research Future Fund through incorporation in the next Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities.

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Ensure Australia’s health system has the capacity to prevent, prepare and respond to communicable diseases, including viral hepatitis, by: • Expanding Focus Area 5 in the draft National Preventive Health Strategy to explicitly include communicable disease prevention; listing the National Hepatitis B and National Hepatitis C Strategy; and including viral hepatitis targets.

• Explicitly including communicable disease prevention and responses, including viral hepatitis elimination, in the Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan.

• Reviewing Australia’s Long Term National Health Plan (developed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) to ensure sufficient inclusion of communicable diseases responses.

June 2021 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90

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May 2021

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Education Update

What has the Hepatitis SA Education team been up to?

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his year it’s been great to get back to some sort of normality and deliver some face-to-face education sessions again. We were lucky last year in being able to continue our education using such platforms as Zoom and Teams, however it’s not quite the same as being in the same room with the audience, which creates a lot more personal engagement and interaction.

In saying this, we have certainly learnt some lessons from the online approach and been able to broaden

our reach to connect with organisations that we have been unable to in the past, particularly those in remote areas of the state.

The most exciting aspect of the lifted restrictions and return to ‘regular programming’ has been the opportunity to resume rural visits around SA, including prisons (a significant component of our community-based work), and we were able to set up a regional screening clinic.

We have also been busy visiting a number of Adelaide

based services to deliver our workforce and community training.

Prison visits

In the last several months we have been able to visit Mount Gambier Prison, the Adelaide Women’s Prison with the successful ‘Keeping Safe’ program and Cadell Prison in the Riverland. We also resumed our regular visits to the Adelaide Youth Training Centre in early 2021. All of these education sessions have been well received after the long hiatus.

Adelaide Women’s Prison

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HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90 • June 2021

Mount Gambier screening clinic

One of the major highlights of the year to date was a viral hepatitis screening clinic in Mount Gambier with a local migrant service. This was carried out in collaboration with the wonderful viral hepatitis nurses from Flinders Medical Centre, Jeff and Rosalie, and Anelia at the Mount Gambier Migrant Resource Centre.

Following our proven format of ‘bringing the clinic to the community’, the project activities were held onsite at the Migrant Resource Centre, and included an education session, a testing clinic, and a follow up clinic for participants to receive their results.

This project was extremely successful in identifying local community members affected by viral hepatitis who had fallen through the gaps, and ensuring they are linked into appropriate care going forward. It was a huge amount of work to coordinate this project – kudos to our education superstar Shannon, who took the lead on this activity and ensured

the project ran smoothly from start to end. Well done!

Metro Adelaide

Alongside our rural and prisons work, we have been busy across the city too – a few highlights include DCS Community Corrections Centres, AOD workers from Life Without Barriers, Flinders and Adelaide University students, PEACE Multicultural Services and Aboriginal Health Council of SA. Some of our community education sessions have included: SA Health community rehabilitation centres, the Woolshed, Tauondi College Open Day and Flexible Learning Options students at various sites. A screening clinic in Adelaide with the Burmese Community (via the Australian Refugee Association) was also facilitated in early 2021.

What’s next for the education team?

We aren’t showing any signs of slowing down soon! In the coming weeks, we also have trips planned to Port Augusta for sessions within the prison

and other local organisations.

We are in discussions with Port Lincoln Prison and Adelaide Pre Release centre to finalise some education visits soon.

In late June, members of the education team will be visiting Ceduna with the CNP Peer Projects Coordinator to host a ‘Hepatitis and Harm Reduction’ workforce forum, as well as run a session at the Yadu Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.

The forum is proving popular with a range of local services working across the health, government and nongovernment sectors. We also have a number of other educational visits planned during our time in Ceduna.

As always, we keep our ears to the ground and are on the lookout for potential partnerships, grants and opportunities to run new and exciting projects with our priority populations.

The team has enjoyed getting out and about, and is looking forward to what the next 6 months of 2021 will bring! v Nicole & Gary, on behalf of the Hepatitis SA Education team

June 2021 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90

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Hep C Self-Testing

Is simple, reliable testing at home a step towards elimination?

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magine being able to test yourself for hepatitis C in the privacy of your home, just like a pregnancy test.

Would you be more ready to take the test?

New diagnostic tools are being developed and piloted for hepatitis C self-testing in selected countries around the world. Findings were recently presented at a webinar by Sonjelle Shilton, Deputy Head of HCV, Access at the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND).

Based on this, hepatitis C selftesting (HCVST) is seen as a potentially important way to expand access to hepatitis C testing.

The FIND-WHO pilot of HCV self-testing tools was carried out in 10 countries covering a total of 22 sites. The tests included one using oral fluid and another using small blood samples. Five sites trialed both methods, 13 did only oral fluids and four sites used only the blood-based method (see map, below).

WHO hepatitis testing guidelines describes selftesting as “a process in which an individual who wants to know his or her status collects a specimen, performs the test and interprets the result themselves, often in private.”

It goes on to say that HIV selftesting which is now conducted in many settings is highly acceptable in a variety of groups and its availability has increased

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HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90 • June 2021

This pilot is a feasibility study looking at usability and acceptance of these selftesting tools among people who inject drugs (PWID) and men who have sex with men (MSM).

Some countries, like Georgia and Malaysia, integrated the hepatitis C self-testing tests into existing HIV self-testing platforms. In Pakistan, the pilot hepatitis C self-tests were integrated into an existing doorto-door campaign for a micro-elimination program targeting the general population in a district in Karachi.

Graphics courtesy of Sonjelle Shilton FIND and Polaris Observatory

The meeting was organised by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO).

uptake of testing among people not reached by other HIV testing services, many of whom are first-time testers.

Results from the study indicated high acceptability of the hepatitis C self-testing tools in six countries. In China lower acceptability was observed in the MSM population—many participants were not confident of the test results and did not consider themselves at risk of hepatitis C. Where there was in-person demonstration given beforehand, participants made very few mistakes in carrying out the steps, and most people interpreted the results correctly. A vast majority of the self-test results agreed with those from professional use tests (see table, above).

people to find out if further tests are needed to confirm their hepatitis C status.

From a regional perspective, countries in the Western Pacific have high rates of hepatitis C infection and deaths and, discounting Australia and New Zealand, low rates of diagnosis and treatment uptake. Reliable, easy to use self-testing tools could be one way to boost diagnoses and help countries move towards hepatitis C elimination. v

In trials where participants were not given an in-person demonstration beforehand, a majority of participants nonetheless performed the tests correctly. While unassisted self-testing led to more frequent mistakes, the mistakes did not have a major effect on test results.

Participants with a higher educational level were able to carry out the tests with less mistakes. The study suggested that in-person demonstrations in target populations with less formal education, at least in the initial stages, would be one way to ease the tests in and reduce mistakes.

The tests used in this pilot study are not yet available on the market. In her presentation, Sonjelle Shilton pointed out that these hepatitis C self-tests only detect antibodies and are not meant to replace existing hepatitis C tests. They are a first step for June 2021 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90

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Hepatitis and Sexual Transmission

Whilst it is very unusual to contract Hepatitis C via sexual activity there are still some risks involved. Hepatitis B is, however, sexually transmitted.

Recent studies in Australia have shown that there is a rise in sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) (See the Fourth National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2018-2022, Department of Health, 2018, bit.ly/3id3rDf ) indicating a need for more public education initiatives - particularly around risk behaviours, safe practices, testing and treatment.

There is also evidence that help seeking behaviour around STIs can be hampered by stigma and embarrassment. Online resources are a useful method of making information and resources available in a safe and anonymous way.

The following resources from our catalogue focus on general sexual health and particular areas of risk. All are free to access online.

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Play safe (safe sex) NSW Health, Sydney, 2021.

Website Comprehensive information about sexually transmitted diseases: transmission risks, symptoms, prevention, treatment, where to get tested in all states and territories, with ‘ask a nurse online’ and an online forum. bit.ly/3g4LTqi

Hepatitis B and relationships Hepatitis Australia, Canberra, 2020. 1p.

Although most people get hepatitis B at birth, it can be transmitted in other ways including sexual activity. This article contains information about how it is spreads, and how you can keep your partner safe. bit.ly/3yW7s51

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90 • June 2021

Condomless sex sufficient to pass on hepatitis C between men London Infohep, 2020. 2p. article Results of a UK study designed to investigate whether blood exposure is necessary for hepatitis C transmission during anal intercourse - or if the virus can be passed on through condomless anal intercourse without bleeding. bit.ly/3ifiGf4 This is us Young Deadly Free (SAHMRI), 2019. 3 videos: 8.11, 9.42, 6.30 mins A dynamic video mini-series that explores the broad social issues around sexual health.

Developed and filmed with Joel Brown and Natasha Wanganeen, and featuring an all Aboriginal cast. 3 episodes bit.ly/3fKNbrz

What you need to know about STIs and sexual health checks Triple J: The Hook Up, Sydney, 2019. 11.37 min audio plus 3p. overview Find out more about the topic of STIs: when to get a check, exactly what happens during your check-up, and how to get your results. ab.co/3vQtHYe Travelling overseas? Plan ahead PEACE Multicultural Services (RASA), Adelaide, 2018. 27p Provides a basic guide for staying safe and healthy when travelling, including: medication, condoms, safe sex, safe injecting, tattoos etc. bit.ly/3g7WIHV Intimate attitudes, practices and knowledges: Chinesespeaking international students in Australia Melbourne Burnet Institute 2019. 32p.

Data on Chinese international students’ sexual experiences which can be used to inform sexual health service provision in Australia (includes sexual health knowledge and sexual health service use). bit.ly/3yUMqng

Hepatitis C in gay men: what are the risks and should I be concerned?

Sydney Aust Federation of AIDS Organisations. 1p. online article Overview info: “it is important to keep the conversations around HCV going with your partners and, if you are particularly concerned, there are ways to reduce your risk, including avoiding those situations in which HCV may be more readily transmitted and/or continuing to use condoms”. bit.ly/2Ril3Th Hep C is NOT an STI Adelaide Hepatitis SA 2012. 3 fold brochure Information about general transmission risks, sexual practices and disclosure.

View online, or for free up-todate printed copies contact Hepatitis SA via email at admin@hepsa.asn.au. bit.ly/3z1YN14

hepatitissa.asn.au/library June 2021 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90

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Call Us!

Free, confidential information and support on viral hepatitis:

1800 437 222 Don’t like Talking?

No Problem.

Visit hepsa.asn.au - no need to log in, lots of info & updates Follow the HepSAY blog - hepsa.asn.au/blog Order print resources - hepsa.asn.au/orders/ Follow us on Twi er @hep_sa or Facebook @Hepa sSA

ALL services & resources FREE

Free Fibroscan Clinics •

Hutt Street Day Centre: 258 Hutt St, Adelaide SA 5000; call Margery on 0423 782 415 to make an appointment

•

WestCare Services: 11/19

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e Pleas Anglicare Elizabeth Mission; 7 22 18001443 17 April, Aug, 132Nov, 9.30am –12 pmpa , 91-93 titisElizabeth he for Way Elizabeth (Bookings via information reception in person, or call 8209 5400) Noarlunga GP Plus; fortnightly, Alexander Kelly Dr, Noarlunga Centre SA 5168 (Bookings via Noarlunga CNP

A Note to Our CNP Clients We are approaching the COVID-19 pandemic with an abundance of caution in line with the recommendations of health experts.

We ask that you arrange for someone else to collect your equipment, if you have • any flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough, or

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• We will place equipment on a table for you to pick up: this will maintain social distancing • We will fill out the data sheet

• We recommend that you collect a month’s supply of equipment (in case of any upcoming closures or supply delays)

• recently returned from travel overseas.

• If you can ring ahead, please do so in case any further changes have taken place.

When collecting equipment, we ask that you cooperate with ‘social distancing’ recommendations:

These measures are for YOUR safety as well as ours. Please respect the CNP workers so we can keep this service going!

HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90 • June 2021

Useful Services & Contacts Hepatitis SA Free education sessions, printed information, telephone information and support, referrals, clean needle program and library.

(08) 8362 8443 admin@hepatitissa.asn.au www.hepsa.asn.au Hepatitis SA Helpline 1800 437 222 (cost of a local call) Adelaide Dental Hospital A specially funded clinic provides priority dental care for people with hepatitis C with a Health Care Card.

Call Hepatitis SA on 1800 437 222 for a referral. beyondblue Mental health information line

Hutt St Centre Showers, laundry facilities, visiting health professionals, recreation activities, education and training, legal aid and assistance services provided to the homeless.

Nunkuwarrin Yunti An Aboriginal-controlled, citybased health service, which also runs a clean needle program.

258 Hutt St, Adelaide SA 5000 (08) 8418 2500

PEACE Multicultural Services HIV and hepatitis education and support for people from nonEnglish speaking backgrounds.

Lifeline National, 24-hour telephone counselling service.

13 11 14 (cost of a local call) www.lifeline.org.au Mental Health Crisis Service 24 hour information and crisis line available to all rural, remote and metropolitan callers.

13 14 65

1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au

MOSAIC Counselling Service For anyone whose life is affected by hepatitis and/or HIV.

Clean Needle Programs in SA For locations visit the Hepatitis SA Hackney office or call the Alcohol and Drug Information Service.

(08) 8223 4566

1300 131 340 Community Access & Services SA Alcohol and drug education; clean needle program for the Vietnamese and other communities.

(08) 8447 8821 headspace Mental health issues are common.

Find information, support and help at your local headspace centre 1800 650 890 www.headspace.org.au

(08) 8406 1600

(08) 8245 8100 Sex Industry Network Promotes the health, rights and wellbeing of sex workers.

(08) 8351 7626 SAMESH South Australia Mobilisation + Empowerment for Sexual Health www.samesh.org.au Youth Health Service Free, confidential health service for youth aged 12 to 25.

Youth Helpline: 1300 13 17 19 Parent Helpline: 1300 364 100

Viral Hepatitis Community Nurses Care and assistance, education, streamlined referrals, patient support, work-up for HCV treatment, monitoring and follow-ups. Clients can self-refer. Contact nurses directly for an appointment.

Central: Margery - 0423 782 415 margery.milner@sa.gov.au

Debbie - 0401 717 953

North: Bin - 0401 717 971 bin.chen@sa.gov.au

Michelle - 0413 285 476

South: Rosalie - 0466 777 876 rosalie.altus@sa.gov.au

Jeff - 0466 777 873

Specialist Treatment Clinics Subsidised treatment for hepatitis B and C are provided by specialists at the major hospitals. You will need a referral from your GP. However, you can call the hospitals and speak to the nurses to get information about treatment and what you need for your referral.

• Flinders Medical Centre Gastroenterology & Hepatology Unit: call 8204 6324 • Queen Elizabeth Hospital: call 8222 6000 and ask to speak a viral hepatitis nurse • Royal Adelaide Hospital Viral Hepatitis Unit: call Anton on 0401 125 361 or 8222 2081 • Lyell McEwin Hospital: call Michelle on 0413 285 476 or Bin on 0401 717 971

28 July 2021 For your chance to WIN one of 3 $50 prepaid Visa cards, call the HepatItIs sa HelplINe on 1800 437 222 (9am–5pm, Mon–Fri) before the end of July 2021. answer this question correctly: Can people that are currently using illicit drugs access the cure for hep C? leave your name, contact phone number and postcode with the Helpline worker to go into the draw to win.

Winners will be contacted by phone on Friday, 6 August to make the arrangements of how to receive their prize.

anyone can access the cure to hep C if they need it.

Hep C treatment is not recommended during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.

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HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 90 • June 2021