I started my Hepatitis Awareness Journey in May 2008 by asking our Honourable Mayor Sam Sullivan to declare a proclamation for Vancouver to have a World Hepatitis Day. Vancouver was the first city in Canada to declare May 19th as World Hepatitis Awareness Day, click view the Proclamation. Thank you to Mayor Samuel Sullivan for his support!
As a person who has lived with Hepatitis C for many years and faced its very difficult challenges, I have vowed to do all I can to raise awareness, set up support and services and ensure that all those affected by Hepatitis C can access quality care and live their lives free from discrimination and stigma!
I had hoped to have a "national charity" but to date have not found enough other committed individuals to help with all the necessary work. For now I will continue doing all I can on my own.
I am proud to be the organizer of "Canada's Annual World Hepatitis Awareness Day Celebration.", Last year being the first, held on May 20th, 2008 at Rossini's in Vancouver, With a live performance by the band DayJob (www.hepccanada.com/dayjob)
I am very grateful to all the health care professionals who attended and spoke. Thank you!
2009's event now in the planning! For registration click Events
I plan to work as hard as possible to organize various events and collect multiple media stories involving all those involved with hepatitis: patients, nurses, doctors, and all vested organizations to put together events geared at education about Hepatitis C.
it is very important to me that everyone understands that hepccanada is not an organization, just one very dedicated individual.
If anyone is interested in being involved or needs help with event planning please contact me at kelly@hepccanada.com
News:
I wish to thank Honorable Mayor Gregor Robertson for issuing a Proclamation
for World Hepatitis Day 2009!
Kelly's "Dream of a Global World Awareness Concert for Hepatitis C"
Dr. Siegfried Erb (left), Clinical Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, accompanies Kelly O'Dell to see Mayor Sam Sullivan (right) to discuss Vancouver's hosting of Kelly's "Dream of a Global World Awarenes Concert for Hepatitis C".
Kelly is proud to have the support of Dr. Erb concerning the need for global awareness with his submission of medical facts about Hepatitis as a growing epidemic. Kelly's hope is for the concert to take place in Vancouver late 2009.
For more information about how you can get involved or how to support this concert, contact us!
Kathy Tomlinson at CBC News covers the Hep C Epidemic:
Dr. John Farley, right, speaks with hepatitis C patients whose requests for anti-viral drug coverage have been turned down by Pharmacare. (CBC)
Vancouver was the first city in Canada to declare May 19th as World Hepatitis Awareness Day, click view the Proclamation. Thank you to Mayor Samuel Sullivan for his support!
Dr Erb's presents at the First Annual World Hepatitis Day Event in Vancouver, click here for the powerpoint presentation.
World Hepatitis Awareness Day 2009:
Canada's Second Annual World Hepatitis Day celebration held May19th, 2009 at Vancouver City Hall!
My Heartfelt thanks to the Honourable Mayor Robertson and his Staff for their support with World Hepatitis day this year!
Hep C Canada would like to extend it's heartfelt gratitude to all of those who were integral in making May 19, World Hepatitis Awareness Day, a resounding success.
Hep C Canada was founded in 2008 to raise awareness, set up support and services and ensure that all those affected by Hepatitis C can access quality care and live their lives free from discrimination and stigma.
It is estimated that between 500,000 and 600,000 people across Canada are living with Hepatitis B and C. British Columbia is reported to have some of the highest infection rates nationwide, with an estimated 120,000 people infected.
Vancouver is home to over 30,000 individuals living with Hepatitis B and C. That is over 30,000 Vancouver residents who are at risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, liver cancer and non-liver related manifestations of these diseases.
With no vaccine available for the prevention of Hepatitis C it is essential that we increase public awareness and education surrounding this disease.
Thanks to your help, our World Hepatitis Awareness Day event allowed us to disseminate this message, reduce stigma, foster tolerance and understanding and acknowledge those affected in the hope of better addressing Hepatitis B and C in the future.
So, thank you. Thank you for joining us as we, along with Global Music Group Canada, Seven Second Chase, launched the “Living for a Change” initiative - in effort to make Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada more aware of these diseases, their transmission and the individuals affected by them.
We are Proud to announce Ms Michelle Sykes won as "Runner Up" in the poster design competition! We were successful getting our poster up in over 100 businesses this year! Great start to the Living For A Change Campaign.
Thank you to all the businesses that supported this initiative!
