Needle and Syringe Programs: the ‘missing piece of the hepatitis C treatment puzzle’ People who currently inject drugs are at the same time the largest and leasttreated segment of Australians living with chronic hepatitis C and must become a priority, reported Dr Stephen McNally, Deputy CEO of Penington Institute at their recent seminar ‘NSP: the missing piece of the hepatitis C treatment puzzle’.
“NSPs see people who inject drugs every day,” said Stephen, “so it’s time for these frontline services to be supported to play a central role in encouraging and supporting clients to get tested and treated for hepatitis C.” Attendees at the recent Penington Institute seminar heard about the importance of NSP workers in supporting their clients to get tested and treated for hepatitis C. The seminar was attended by frontline staff from organisations including NSPs,
hospitals, community health centres, research organisations, government agencies, at home nursing and universities. Speakers included specialist nurse practitioners, a prescribing doctor, an NSP manager, a person with lived experience of hepatitis C, researchers, and staff from Penington Institute. Stephen said that, for the first time, any person living with chronic hepatitis C has the opportunity to be clear of the virus for good – thanks to the introduction of new and highly effective direct acting antiviral treatments.
“People living with hepatitis C who do not currently inject drugs have been a large number of those starting treatment. However, this group – those we might describe as fairly ‘easy to reach and treat’ – will soon be all cured of the virus,” said Stephen. “Yes, this is a great result, but we are not even close to treating everyone who has hepatitis C if we ignore people who currently inject drugs.” Around 80 per cent of people acquire hepatitis C by sharing injecting
8
