This Thursday, July 28 is World Hepatitis Day.
It is not a day to celebrate but with one in every 12 people on earth infected with either Hepatitis B and/or C, it is certainly a day that would be unwise to ignore. Four hundred million people living with Hepatitis is a lot of humanity needlessly put at risk.
Oddly enough, it seems far too many of us are not only unaware of the suffering and the billions of dollars that these epidemics are costing us, we are also ignorant of the new drugs being developed to successfully treat these deadly viruses.
In fact, here in B.C., less than two per cent of people living with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are receiving treatment. Members of REDUN (Rural Empowered Drug Users Network) know all too well how serious the situation is and have partnered with AIDS Network Kootenay Outreach and Support Society (ANKORS) and Roche Canada to offer Boundary residents the opportunity to learn more about these insidious viruses and the significant issues surrounding them.
Nurse Lesley Gallagher from the Pender Clinic in Vancouver will also be in Grand Forks to share the latest on new treatments. This forum will be held on July 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wildlife Hall, 7850 2nd Street, Grand Forks.
A light lunch will be available. Patients, friends, health care providers and the community at larger are all invited.
For more information, contact Alex Sherstobitoff at 1-800-421-2437.