HepatitisWA Newsletter (Sept 2013)

SEPT 2013

CONTENTS

04

12

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE

COMMUNITY NEWS

PROMOTIONS

04 All Better Now

A personal perspective on the

06 Going Viral

A round-up of articles on viral

18 Breaking Through the Barriers

National Hepatitis Health

Promotion Conference

hepatitis.

treatment journey for hepatitis C.

10 Drug Therapy Offers New Hope

to Hepatitis C Patients

Written by Karen Bouffard.

FEATURES 08 Hepatitis Screening Not Being

Done to the Letter: Hepatitis D

Not all people with hepatitis B are being routinely screened for the hepatitis D virus.

Written by Kate Aubusson.

12 Pregnancy & Hepatitis C

Women who have hepatitis C and

are pregnant may have some concerns about their pregnancy and possibility of transmission to their child. This article helps address some of these concerns.

HepatitisWA Community Activities.

14 The WA Health Traffic Light System

WA Health serves classify food and drinks into categories based on their nutritional value, energy density and levels of saturated fat, added sugar, salt and fibre.

WASUA’S DOMAIN

A toolkit has been developed for managers, service providers, clinicians and project officers in the sexual health and blood borne virus (SHBBV) sector.

23 St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

20th National Symposium on

Hepatitis B and C

Early bird registration opens Monday 2 September 2013.

Building the Foundations for Innovation: A Symposium presented by SiREN

20 A Hep C Message Feature by the WA Substance User’s Association.

Share experience and thoughts with peers in a friendly, non-judgemental environment.

22 Sexual Health BBV Planning

Toolkit for Health Professionals

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

19 HepatitisWA Peer Support

Group Advertisement

16 Hepatidings

Save the date: 14 to 15 November 2013, ParkRoyal Hotel Sydney

Calling for abstract submissions before 30 November 2013.

24 HepatitisWA has moved!

Our new address is

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134 Aberdeen Street Northbridge, WA 6003

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Image of lady available under a creative commons license at www.sxc.hu. Photography by Fernando Audibert. Copyright © 2009.

Photograph of pregnant woman taken by Felicia Bradley. Copyright © 2013.

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HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

24

ALL BETTER NOW

Written by Eileen.

I

started treatment in August 2012 with interferon and ribavirin.

of IPO. I was extremely weak for much of the time and went from being a very active person who did an enormous variety One month later I started of physical and other taking Boceprevir in activities, to someone who addition. In total, the could only lie in bed. I treatment took 7 months. could walk to the toilet, but got short of breath and During this 7 months, my had to rest along the way. hemoglobin went from 14 to 7. I had transfusions At the worst times, I and more than one course was too weak to even

brush my teeth and reading or watching TV was too tiring, as was talking or even listening to someone speak... I had a madness inducing rash over most of my body. I had very painful mouth ulcers. I felt nauseous.

I had to force myself to eat. My friends helped me think of possibilities each week as to what I would be able to force down.

Story written by Eileen and published with permission.

Image available under a creative commons license at www.sxc.hu. Photography by Fernando Audibert. Copyright Š 2009.

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HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE More than half of my hair fell out. I cried every afternoon at 4.00 o’clock. My muscles wasted away.

On the other side of things, my eyelashes got very long and my nails were hard as the other kind of nails.

I looked for and found humour even on the worst days.

I have an even greater appreciation of my friends and life in general. I understand old people better now.

I am all better now. :) I remember many times wishing desperately for someone to talk to who actually understood how I felt as even my lovely friends had no idea how I felt and at the time, it seemed very important. I hope this would be useful to someone who is considering treatment.

Best wishes,

Eileen.

Sometimes I could only tolerate milk. I became extremely sensitive to smells. Most chemical smells including things like dish washing liquid and peoples perfume made me retch.

I became extremely sensitive to noise. I experienced next door’s lawn mower as pain - ditto anyone speaking loudly.

NEED SUPPORT? Eileen’s story highlights the struggle that some people may face as they journey through treatment. Every person’s journey is different and their needs will not be the same, however they should be aware that practical

and

emotional

support

is

available

for

people who are undertaking treatment and a range of other issues at HepatitisWA. someone,

please

email

If you need to speak with support@hepatitiswa.com.au.

HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

5

GOING VIRAL A ROUND-UP OF ARTICLES ON VIRAL HEPATITIS

VIC HEPATITIS DOCTOR LOSES APPEAL BID

A

Victorian doctor who infected 55 female patients with hepatitis C has lost his bid to appeal his sentence.

Lawyers for James Latham Peters argue that his 14-year jail term falls outside the acceptable range and is disproportionate to his crimes.

The 63-year-old former anaesthetist was handed a non-parole term of 10 years by the Victorian Supreme Court in March after pleading guilty to 55 counts of negligently causing serious injury.

The Victorian Court of Appeal has today rejected his appeal bid, finding that it’s not reasonably arguable that his sentence was disproportionate.

BY AAP NEWSWIRE..

Aug 16, 2013 for National, Australia.

HEP C BREAKTHROUGH

DRUGS MAY HALVE RATE OF INFECTION

N 6

ew antiviral treatments for hepatitis C could halve the rate of

infection years.

within

just

15

liver disease was enormous.

New Victorian research shows the drugs currently being trialled show great promise in easing the burden of the disease on the health care system.

“At the moment we are not treating enough people who are injecting drugs to stop the impact of the ongoing transmission... we need to ramp up the treatment to be cost effective,” she said.

About 150 million people globally are infected with the hep C virus, mainly from injecting drugs.

Hep C is a major cause of liver disease and the fastest growing cause of liver transplantations.

The new direct active antivirals, which have vastly improved efficacy and fewer side effects than current treatments, are being trialled around the world.

Researchers from the Burnet Institute and clinicians based in the UK, Australia and Canada used a mathematical model to determine the impact of the new treatments on people who inject drugs in three cities.

Centre for Population Health head Professor Margaret Hellard said new treatments could halve the prevalence of hep C in 15 years by increasing treatment 13-fold in Melbourne.

She said even though the treatments were expensive, the cost of managing

She said current harm reduction measures such as opiate substitution treatment and needle exchange should continue in combination with these measures.

It comes as Hepatitis Australia calls on governments to make the hep B vaccination free for vulnerable adults, namely those from the Asia-Pacific and Africa.

New research from the advocacy group found that half of Australians were unaware that a hep B vaccine exists and remain largely ignorant to the risk of the virus.

BY LUCIE VAN DEN BERG..

Jul 29, 2013 for Geelong Advertiser

MORE AWARENESS NEEDED FOR HEP B

M

elbourne — When Nafisa Yussuf was overcome with exhaustion and loss of appetite, she thought it was just the stress of doing her final high school exams.

HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013 Disclaimer: The news articles and excerpts displayed in the HepatitisWA Newsletter remain the copyright of the original authors and news publications.

COMMUNITY NEWS

It was not until a few months later that the Somali-born student went to the doctor, did a simple blood test and was diagnosed with hepatitis B. The now 24 year old Melbourne woman is among an estimated 220,000 people living with chronic hepatitis B in Australia — but almost half of those have never been diagnosed.

where the virus is widespread. Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders are also at higher risk.

Ms Yussuf says she probably contracted the virus from her mother at birth.

Royal Melbourne Hospital Dr Ben Cowie wants to see the virus be made a priority health issue in Australia and says the vaccination program should be extended so adults who are vulnerable and unprotected can receive it free.

Jul 29, 2013 for Launceston Examiner

Experts used World Hepatitis Day to call for state and federal governments to pump more resources into raising ‘‘This is a very cost effective awareness of the disease and funding vaccinations for way of protecting people. The cost of one liver transplant adults. would buy many thousands The hepatitis vaccine is free of doses of vaccine, so for children, but funding of adult vaccines is inconsistent this really is a priority,’’ he said. across the country.

This is despite hepatitis B being increasingly recognised as the predominant cause of liver cancer.

Dr Cowie says appropriate treatment for people living with hepatitis B substantially reduces the risk of liver cancer in only Deaths from liver cancer are a few years. growing faster than any other cause of cancer death in the country, and most people who ‘‘It’s absolutely urgent that have liver cancer die within we need to get more five years, experts say. than 100,000 Australians People most at risk of living with hepatitis B hepatitis B are from the Asia- who don’t know they’re Pacific region and Africa, even infected, diagnosed.’’

BY LAUNCESTON EXAMINER..

HEPATITIS C TREATMENT IMPROVES

A

ustralia and its neighbours are on the verge of implementing an improved treatment for hepatitis C, says a leading liver specialist.

This could lead to the disease being cured in the majority of cases, said Professor Darrell Crawford, chairman of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver. The Asia-Pacific region is at the epicentre of liver disease with millions of affected people.

Important announcements are expected to be made in 2014 when 3000 specialists gather in Brisbane.

BY NEWCASTLE HERALD..

Jul 29, 2013 for Newcastle Herald HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

7

FEATURE

HEPATITIS SCREENING NOT BEING DONE TO THE LET TER

HEPATITIS D

D

octors are failing to test at-risk patients for hepatitis D, in spite of improved awareness of the condition over the past decade, Victorian research suggests.

The state’s laboratory records show people with hepatitis B are not being routinely screened for the hepatitis D virus, despite roughly 5% being co-infected.

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HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

Hepatitis D co-infection causes more severe complications than B alone, including increased risks of liver failure, cirrhosis and cancer.

The combination of hepatitis B and D has the highest mortality rate of all the hepatitis infections, at 20%. “Given that there were over 17,000 diagnoses for chronic HBV infection in

Study author Jennifer Mac Lachlan, an epidemiologist at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, said hepatitis D could be included in the same panel of blood tests as HIV and hepatitis C. Doctors should be vigilant for testing at-risk groups, particularly migrants and injecting drug users, she said.

“Every hepatitis B patient should be screened for the hepatitis D virus, but that doesn’t seem to he happening.

“Instead we’re seeing overtesting for people with very little risk and we’re missing the high-risk patients.”

Only gastroenterologists and hepatologists can currently prescribe therapy for hepatitis D. However, Ms Mac Lachlan hoped this would be extended to GPs in future.

Victoria in the 10-year study period, during which 2,314 people were tested for HDV, it is evident that people diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B... are not being routinely tested for HDV infection in accordance with clinical guidelines,” researchers said.

Most testing requests came after patients reported liver disease symptoms, rather than opportunistically.

People with hepatitis B are not being routinely screened for the hepatitis D virus.

By Kate Aubusson, Internal Medicine Journal 2013; online.

Image copyright 2013 NPR. HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

9

COMMUNITY NEWS

DRUG THERAPY OFFERS NEW HOPE TO

HEPATITIS C PATIENTS

By Karen Bouffard

A

new drug regimen for liver transplant patients — tried for the first time ever at the University of Michigan Hospital — could bring hope to millions of hepatitis C patients and the man who received the initial treatment has made it his mission to educate the public about the disease.

Robert Gholston Jr., a 59-year-old General Motors Co. durability test driver from Troy, Michigan contracted the hepatitis C virus from a blood transfusion he received after he was hit by a car at age 9. By 2011, it had destroyed his liver, and he received a transplant at U-M Hospital. But within six months, the virus was back — and aggressively attacked his liver.

Dr. Robert Fontana, professor of internal medicine and medical director of liver transplantation at U-M Health System, obtained emergency approval from the federal Food and Drug Administration to give Gholston a treatment that combined two oral antiviral medications, sofosbuvir and daclatasvir.

Dr. Fontana said, “It hasn’t been tested, and if you take this, you’ll be the only one of 7 billion people taking this...” Gholston recalled.

I thought, “If I’m the one supposed to test this medication, then so be it.”

10

HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

Photography by Max Ortiz. Copyright © 2013.

According to Fontana, the new therapy works faster and is effective in a greater percentage of patients than the standard treatment for people with genotype 1 hepatitis C, the strain infecting Gholston. It’s the most common strain of the virus, infecting about 70 percent of carriers, and the most difficult to treat. The new drugs also have proven effective in people with other cases of the disease, Fontana said.

The new treatment provides an alternative for patients, like Gholston, who can’t tolerate the current standard of care. At present, patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C typically receive a weekly interferon injection, and ribavirin, boceprevir and telaprevir, pills that must be taken three times daily with food for six to 12 months. It’s a complicated regimen with lots of side effects. Patients often feel like they have a low-grade flu, and even if they do everything they’re supposed to, many patients won’t be cured or the virus will come back.

By comparison, Gholston took two oral tablets daily for six months, with no side effects.

“Clearly, we’re on the brink of a revolution in therapy,” Fontana told The Detroit News, noting the therapy is not yet available to the public and is awaiting FDA approval. “Probably 50 to 65 percent (are) clear (of the virus) in six to 12 months with standard drugs. With the new drugs, 80 to 90 percent (are) clear in three to six months.

“We’re all hoping they’ll be approved (by the FDA) in the next six months.”

Hepatitis C has emerged as a quiet killer among baby boomers. Those who are affected often show no symptoms at all for 10, 20 or 30 years.

If left untreated, the virus causes cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure, which Gholston experienced. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic liver disease, often hepatitis C-related, is a leading cause of death among African-Americans age 45-64. The CDC says black Americans “have a substantially higher rate of chronic hepatitis C infection than Caucasians and other ethnic groups.”

An estimated 4 million to 5 million people are infected with the virus, and many don’t know it. Scientists didn’t know how to test for it until 1992. It was only then that Gholston, a consistent blood donor, got a letter from the Red Cross advising him to visit his doctor, and he learned he had the disease.

The CDC estimates if all baby boomers were to be screened at one time, nearly 1 million additional cases of hepatitis C infections would be diagnosed. Recently, the number of annual deaths in the U.S. attributed to the virus exceeding those, due to HIV infection.

Gholston has struck up a relationship with the young son of the man who gave him his liver — Adam James Tuthill of Battle Creek, who died suddenly of an aneurism at age 26. Eyan Tuthill, 7, now lives with his great-grandparents in Hastings. Through the Gift of Life organ donation program, Gholston started a correspondence with the family shortly after his transplant in January 2011.

Gholston and some of his children traveled to Hastings to meet Eyan and his greatgrandparents after Christmas last year. Since then, he’s started a savings account in Eyan’s name.

“I took him Christmas shopping — I told him Santa sent me because his Dad wasn’t here,” Gholston said. “He said, ‘I know who you are, you’re my father’s best friend.’ It was more exciting for me than it was for him.”

Gholston has become an advocate of testing for the virus, and for organ donation, especially among African-Americans. He does public speaking for the Gift of Life program, and has trained Secretary of State workers on the importance of encouraging people to sign up as organ donors when they renew their driver’s license.

Eyan’s great-grandmother, Lawanda Converse, said Gholston has been a blessing in their lives.

Eyan is a “replica” of his dad, and “Robert makes him feel really good,” she said.

“It has been so wonderful to meet him — it feels good to see the results of an organ donation like that,” Converse said. “I just feel that my grandson would have been so pleased. That’s the kind of person he was — he would have wanted that.

Gholston’s life was saved three times: when he was 9, when he received a liver transplant in 2011, and when the new drug treatment wiped out his hepatitis C. An ordained minister and chaplain for United Auto Workers Local 653, he’s dedicated his life to giving those blessings back. A father of eight, with eight grandchildren, he also started taking better care of his health. He walks up to five miles a day and participates in 5K runs.

Article is published in The Detroit News: tinyurl.com/drug-therapyhep-c HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

11

H

epatitis C does not affect either the ova (the woman’s egg) or the sperm. Therefore it doesn’t matter whether it

is the male or female partner (or both) with hepatitis C, there will be no adverse effect on the baby.

The aim of pre-conception care is to prepare your body for pregnancy. This should ideally occur at least 4 months prior to conceiving. Preconception care improves your chance of becoming pregnant more easily, having a healthy baby and being healthier and able to cope well with your pregnancy.

The

one

universally

recommended

supplement is folic acid. Folic acid is a B group vitamin needed for healthy growth and development of the baby in the first weeks of life. Research had found that taking a folic acid supplement reduces birth defects such as spina bifida. The recommendation is to take at least 500 micrograms of folic acid per day for at least one month prior to pregnancy and for the first 3 months of pregnancy.

PREGNANCY &

HEPATITIS C Women who have hepatitis C and are pregnant may have some concerns about their pregnancy and possibility of transmission to their child. This article helps address some of these concerns.

Photography by Felicia Bradley. Copyright © 2013.

Suggested steps you can take to improve your health before pregnancy include: • Eat a well balanced diet • Drink plenty of water • Get plenty of exercise • Quit or cut down on smoking cigarettes or using any other drugs • Avoid caffeine & alcohol • Let your health care practitioner know that you are trying to become pregnant and follow their advice • If you own a cat, get someone else to empty the kitty litter due to the risk of infection with toxoplasmosis (a parasitic infection transmitted by uncooked meat and food contaminated by cat faeces).

The overall risk of transmitting hepatitis C to your baby whilst pregnant or during birth is less than 5% if you have detectable levels of the virus in your blood (that is,

FEATURE

The overall risk of transmitting hepatitis C to your baby whilst pregnant or during birth is less than 5% if you have detectable levels of the virus in your blood. if you had a PCR test that indicated the presence of the virus

pregnancy. Once the baby is born you will need to have your

in your blood). Women with very low levels of the virus are

liver function tests repeated. Liver function tests results may

very unlikely to transmit hepatitis C to their babies. However,

show an increase in values though this, and may readjust as

women infected with both HIV and hepatitis C have a higher

your body returns to its non-pregnant state.

risk of transmitting hepatitis C to their baby than women who are not co-infected.

There is nothing to suggest that women with hepatitis C have a different course of labour to other women. It is standard for

Current research about the timing of transmission from

labour to last between 4 hours to about 24 hours, however

mother to baby is inconclusive. There is some evidence that

this does vary greatly from woman to woman, and from baby

transmission occurs during pregnancy while other studies

to baby.

indicate that transmission occurs at the time of birth. In the absence of conclusive research about the timing of

Some women regardless of whether or not they have

transmission, the use of forceps, vacuum and scalp

hepatitis C may require medical interventions to assist their

electrodes during labour and birth should be avoided if

labour and birth. A common intervention is to have labour

possible (unless clinically necessary) as these measures

induced (artificially started early). Research has proven that

can break the baby’s skin, possibly allowing blood to blood

if labour is induced you are more likely to need further

contact to occur between mother to baby. There will be times

interventions such as the use of forceps, ventouse (vacuum

when these procedures are unavoidable and your pregnancy

extraction) or caesarean section - such interventions may

care provider will discuss this with you in this instance.

put your baby at a higher risk of contracting hepatitis C during birth. Therefore, unless there is a medical reason for

There is an increased risk of transmission from mother to baby when the mother: • is in the acute (newly acquired) stage of hepatitis C infection • is co-infected with HIV (transmission rates of 16% have been recorded for mothers co-infected with HIV and hepatitis).

an induction of labour, it is not recommended that women with hepatitis C have labour induced.

All babies born to women with hepatitis C will test antibody positive at birth because their shared blood has their mother’s antibodies. Antibodies are like memory cells reminding the

There is no evidence to show a father with hepatitis C can

body that it has been infected with a virus or bacteria in the

transmit hepatitis C to the baby either at conception or in the

past. These antibodies pass through the placenta to the baby

womb.

during the pregnancy; however they do not infect the baby with the virus.

Current research suggests there are no particular health issues for pregnant women with hepatitis C. However, some side effects of pregnancy are more apparent in women with hepatitis C such as ‘pregnancy itch’, an uncomfortable all-over itchiness which is a side effect of the extra stress the liver is under during pregnancy.

This condition requires close monitoring and may need specialist management with a dermatologist.

The combination of pregnancy hormones can change the way in which the liver reacts to the hepatitis C virus during

By around the age of 18 months, around 92 - 95% of babies will have cleared their mother’s antibodies and test negative for hepatitis C. If parents are still concerned following discussion with their health care provider or liver specialist then antibody testing should only be carried out after the child reaches 18 month of age.

Remember, if you have any questions or concerns about viral hepatitis, you can receive free information and support from HepatitisWA, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm by calling the hepatitis helpline on (08) 328 8538 for metro callers, or on 1800 800 070 for country callers.

HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

Source: Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond by ACT Hepatitis Resource Centre. Re-printed with permission.

Available at www.hepatitisresourcecentre.com.au (1 September 2013) http://tinyurl.com/Preg-Birth-and-Beyond-AHC

13

Photographs Top: Frank Farmer (HepatitisWA’s Executive Manager), Araya Suwankam (Thai Radio Program) and Rosita D’Adamo (HepatitisWA’s Hepatitis B Community Development Officer) in the studio of Multicultural Radio 6EBA-FM. Middle: A capture of a healthy fruit salad. Photo of a participant with Support Officer Kim, and volunteer Sarah at the ‘ ‘Healthy Liver Breakfast’.

Bottom: Participants from the Hepatitis B group information session held at the Kalgoorlie Community Migrant Service.

HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

17

PARKROYAL HOTEL NATIONAL HEPATITIS HEALTH DARLING HARBOUR PROMOTION CONFERENCE SYDNEY, 14-15 NOVEMBER

Call for abstracts & registration now open Hepatitis Australia is pleased to invite you to Sydney for the 2013 National Hepatitis Health Promotion Conference to be held at the ParkRoyal, Darling Harbour on 14-15 November.

The conference will bring together a diverse range of speakers, researchers and community and health sector workers from across Australia.

The theme for the 2013 conference is Breaking through the Barriers.

The conference will explore the many barriers faced by those working in the viral hepatitis health promotion sector and demonstrate programs, projects and practices that have addressed these barriers and delivered successful health promotion projects.

Abstracts Abstracts can be submitted online at Hepatitis Australia’s website

www.hepatitisaustralia.com

Abstracts close 1 September 2013

Registration Costs $150.00 (Includes access

to all sessions over both days)

Optional Conference Dinner additional $50.00

2013 National Hepatitis Health Promotion Conference More Information Website: www.hepatitisaustralia.com Email: conference2013@hepatitisaustralia.com Phone: (02) 6232 4257 18

HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

For more information, please contact Kim Rossow on 9227 9806 or support@hepatitiswa.com.au

HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

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WASUA’S DOMAIN THE WEST AUSTRALIA SUBSTANCE USERS ASSOCIATION

A HEP C MESSAGE HEPATITIS AWARENESS WEEK 2013

We’re talking hep C ...

W

ASUA hosted a BBQ during Hepatitis Awareness Week in July at Weld Square in Northbridge.

A free community BBQ event was listed in ‘What’s On In Perth’ and invites were sent out to the public and other agencies to join us to recognise Hepatitis Awareness Week. ‘Hepatitis Awareness Week’ embodies ‘World Hepatitis Day’, which was held on the 28th of July. The aim of the day was to help improve education regarding liver health and viral hepatitis understanding within the general community. Work was also undertaken to breakdown stigma and create positive attitudes towards those living with viral hepatitis.

As a public event, people where able to come and have lunch, and receive hepatitis related messages by enthused staff and volunteers from WASUA. WASUA provided many types of resources including giving out information and educating the public about hepatitis and the general issues associated with the virus. WASUA received many positive evaluations from

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HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

participants whom indicated they had received much needed hepatitis education as well as a good meal with numerous compliments to WASUA staff for being so friendly and easy to communicate with.

A number of people crossed over the road to HepatitisWA to have their bloods screened and it was also positive to hear from people that they had made the decision to be tested at a future time. Therefore, at either WASUA (Tuesdays and Thursdays) or HepatitisWA (Wednesday afternoons fortnightly) anyone can attend anonymously, free of charge, and with no appointments to receive blood screenings for hepatitis A, B and C and also vaccinations for hepatitis A & B. Seventy-five percent of people whom attended were from a CaLD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) background. We also were able to reach out to peers, both abled and disabled, who had never been in touch with or used WASUA services before. The introduction to new peers was more than positive, with them being able to connect with WASUA staff in a confidential and totally supportive manner. Even with disabilities, a new peer brought along his football and started kicking it around the park.

Playing sports was a perfect opportunity to explain the importance of the ‘Blood Rule’, to prevent possible transmission on the field.

WASUA was fortunate to have the support of HepatitisWA who made the day possible. Coles Northbridge also deserves acknowledgement supporting ‘Hepatitis Awareness Week’ by helping supply a lot of the food and drinks for the event. As WASUA’s Hepatitis Educator, the best part of the day was the easy way the hepatitis message was shared with everyone who attended. This can only broaden everyone’s knowledge on blood borne viruses, and those who are needing or seeking further support — they can now connect to WASUA services to further their education, obtain information, support or receive a referral.

Written by Mikayla-Jay McGinley Hepatitis C Educator, WASUA.

PERTH

SOUTH WEST

Van Phone 0417 973 089 Office (08) 9791 6699 or (08) 9721 1449

(08) 9321 2877 www.wasua.com.au Perth NSEP Mon - Weds: 10am-4pm Thurs - Fri: 10am-8pm Sat & Sun: 10am-12pm

Clinic Hours Tues & Thurs: 10am-4pm Closed Public Holidays

WASUA provides a number of services on premises at 519 Murray Street, West Perth, including: • • • • • • • • •

NSEP (Needle and Syringe Exchange Program) Free hep A and B vaccinations for hepatitis C positive people Free blood testing in a friendly confidential environment Drug treatment support and referral Peer education and training Street-based outreach Advocacy and support for users Safe injecting and safe disposal education and resources Hepatitis C/blood borne virus information and resources

South West Mobile provides a mobile Needle Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP) at the following locations and times: Margaret River Busselton Donnybrook Manjimup Jaycee Park, Bunbury Hudson Road, Bunbury Bunbury Hospital Harvey Collie

Tuesday: 12pm-1pm Tuesday: 5pm-7pm Wednesday: 9am-10am Wednesday: 12pm-1pm Wednesday: 4:30pm-5:30pm Wednesday: 6pm-7pm Wednesday: 7:15-9:15pm Thursday: 7-8pm Thursday: 9-11pm

Hospital Carpark Hospital Carpark Hospital Carpark Hospital Carpark Community Health Carpark Dental Clinic Carpark Hospital Carpark Hospital Carpark

HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013

21

NEW RESOURCE LAUNCHED! Sexual Health BBV Program Planning Toolkit for Health Professionals The WA Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN) is pleased to launch a brand new resource for managers, service providers, clinicians and project officers in the sexual health and blood borne virus (SHBBV) sector. The toolkit contains information, tools and quick links to assist practitioners in planning, implementing and evaluating health interventions that aim to reduce the transmission of STIs and BBVs in priority population groups.

The toolkit has been developed in response to the findings of a needs assessment survey conducted by SiREN for the WA SHBBV sector. The SHBBV Program Planning Toolkit will be useful to all health professionals involved in planning or evaluating SHBBV projects.

We encourage you to share this with your networks and colleagues (and also on your social media)!

Head to our website NOW to download yourself a copy http://siren.org.au/tools/ and join the SiREN Network by emailing siren@curtin.edu.au to receive notice of future training and resources.

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HEPATITISWA Newsletter // Sept 2013