It’s Your Right
Promoting testing and treatment for people who inject drugs
T
he Eliminate Hepatitis C Australia Partnership (EC Australia) was created in 2018 to bring together researchers, implementation scientists, government, health services and community organisations to work toward eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat in Australia by 2030. EC Australia’s goals: •
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Ensure that 15,000 Australians with chronic hepatitis C are treated and cured of their infection annually Ensure that people identified with cirrhosis related to hepatitis C infection are treated and cured, and regularly reviewed to monitor for liver cancer
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Establish a national collaborative framework to facilitate a coordinated response to the elimination of hepatitis C as a public health threat from Australia by 2030.
The forthcoming EC Australia “It’s Your Right” Health Promotion Campaign, which launches in April, aims to reduce the prevalence of hepatitis C amongst people who inject drugs by using peer engagement to increase access to hepatitis C testing and treatment. EC Australia and AIVL member organisations and programs are working together to roll out the campaign nationally. We want to reach people who currently inject, who are not
accessing hepatitis C testing and treatment services, and who may be delaying and/ or avoiding treatment. The campaign aims to shift perceptions about treatment and support people to prioritise treatment for hepatitis C. The funding for the campaign is from the Paul Ramsey Foundation and is administered by EC Australia at the Burnet Institute. The It’s Your Right Campaign will feature street advertising, NSP posters, merchandise, giveaways, short films and peer outreach activities over a 3-month period, starting in April. Visit the www.itsyourright.com.au website for more information soon! v
www.itsyourright.com.au March 2023 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 93
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