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.
Kelly O'Dell is the Vancouver organizer of Canada's Annual World Hepatitis Day Celebration, Kelly is on the national steering committee
Hep C Canada will use the occasion to launch its “Living for a Change” campaign. The popular Vancouver-based band Seven Second Chase (Global Music Group Canada) and its lead singer Cliff Lee will perform to demonstrate their support for World Hepatitis Day.
All media and those affected by HEPATITIS are invited to attend and participate in this hour-long event at City Hall. Vancouver is perhaps the only Canadian city to have issued a proclamation to support World Hepatitis Day.
Behind the hepatitis statistics are real people whose lives are significantly impacted, often with devastating effect, by the disease. This event will honour and empower British Columbians who are living with hepatitis.
World Hepatitis Awareness Day 2008:
Vancouver was proud to host Canada's first World Hepatitis Awareness Day Celebration on May 20th, 2008. The event was a great success, thank you to all those who participated and showed your support!.
Be sure to register to be added to the mailing list for future event updates and invites, please contact events@hepccanada.com
Tue Sep 30, 2008: World Hepatitis Awareness Day
Copenhagen, Denmark - Sir Bob Geldof today added his voice to that of hepatitis patient groups, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) by calling on governments around the world to prioritise hepatitis. Almost 600 million people worldwide are infected with either hepatitis B or C, both potentially life-threatening liver diseases. Of these, 350 million have hepatitis B despite WHO guidelines released in 19911recomending the addition of hepatitis B vaccination to all national immunization programmes.
New research from both WHO Europe and the European Liver Patient Association (ELPA) show inconsistencies in hepatitis testing, diagnosis and treatment across Europe and beyond. With increased movement across borders and the knowledge that a possible 86% of people with hepatitis C are unaware they have it (UK2,3), these inconsistencies could have a lasting impact on the health of the global community. This has lead Sir Bob Geldof, WHO Europe and patient groups from around the globe to call on governments to take action now before there is an epidemic of liver disease.
Speaking in a pre-recorded message, Sir Bob Geldof highlighted the importance for those at risk, to get tested: "Stigma, shame and fear can suffocate awareness. These barriers prevent people from getting tested, receiving treatment and clearing themselves of this disease. The thing about the hepatitis C virus is that it does not cause any obvious symptoms. People can be infected with the virus for years and not know. This has led to people calling it a silent disease. The good news is that hepatitis C can actually be cured in many people. Seek advice from your doctor and ask about the risk factors for hepatitis C. The worst situation is to be diagnosed when the disease has progressed too far to be treated."
Dr Marc Danzon, Director of WHO Europe recognises the importance of this global health threat. "Controlling hepatitis poses a significant challenge in the 21st century, and the number of people developing serious liver disease as a result of these viral infections continues to rise. WHO Europe, along with many other partners, is concerned about the high levels of infection, which in some areas of the world can be classified as highly endemic."
Key findings of the ELPA survey conducted in 15 European countries include the following:
- Lack of national strategy: Only 4 of the 15 countries surveyed (France, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom) have a national strategy for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis, and fewer than half reported that government funding was available to support patient associations in targeted initiatives.
- Stigma and discrimination: There are alarming levels of stigma and discrimination associated with viral hepatitis - 10 of the 15 countries reported that people with hepatitis are discriminated against politically, socially and economically.
- Screening and diagnosis: While screening is free in 9 of the 15 countries surveyed, government- organized programmes to promote screening exist only in two countries (France and the Netherlands. ) In addition, 14 of the 15 countries do not run annual screening programmes. Many countries (e.g. Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania and Switzerland) consider screening difficult to access, and in 5 of the 15 countries patients have to pay for the test.
- Reimbursement and access to treatment needed: There are large variations in reimbursement and access to treatment. While many countries in the ELPA survey reported 100% coverage of hepatitis C treatment costs, Bosnia and Egypt offered no reimbursement, Belgium only 85% and Switzerland 90% of costs. According to a recent WHO Europe survey, Latvia reimburses 75% of hepatitis C treatment costs, while people with hepatitis in the other former Soviet Union countries must cover the cost of medication themselves.
Muriel Colinet, President of ELPA explained that "The research presented today clearly demonstrates the need for a unified European approach; including free screening across Europe. It is crucial that anyone who feels that they may be at risk from this virus are tested as soon as possible."
Many pivotal organizations, including WHO Europe, the European Commission, ELPA and EASL, convened in advance of World Hepatitis Awareness Day (held annually on Sunday October 1) at the WHO Europe in Denmark to hear about this new data. Delegates heard of the urgent need for improved rates of testing and diagnosis as well as access to treatment in all countries to ensure that hepatitis does not become the next global epidemic.
Delegates heard from Dr Jean-Michel Pawlotsky, Scientific Secretary of EASL, who explained that with early diagnosis and treatment, the majority of hepatitis B and C patients can be treated effectively. "People with hepatitis C can achieve a sustained viral response, the clinical equivalent of a cure. Treatment options over the last decade have improved significantly and it is fundamental that patients are tested and diagnosed as early as possible if they are to stand the best chance of clearing the virus. Issues and unresolved questions remain however, and it is mandatory that basic and clinical research on viral hepatitis be put very high on the agenda of worldwide stakeholders including political and funding bodies."
In a call to action, Dr Marc Danzon, Director, WHO Europe added "As a disease that affects over half a billion people worldwide, WHO Europe believes it is an urgent priority for all stakeholders including doctors, governments and non-governmental organizations around the world do more to raise awareness of hepatitis B and C and to stop the spread of one of the greatest threats to the health of mankind today."
About World Hepatitis Awareness Day
Now in its third year, World Hepatitis Awareness Day, which takes place on October 1, 2006, aims to increase awareness about hepatitis B and C. This year, Sir Bob Geldof, WHO Europe, the EASL, ELPA and approximately 20 international patient organizations are working together to promote this important educational initiative. The theme for this year is Get Tested. Both forms of viral hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver transplantation and yet hepatitis B can be prevented through immunisation and in many cases, hepatitis C can be cured. Hence WHO Europe has today released three hepatitis prevention, treatment and care protocols for the European Region (available at http://www.euro. who.int/aids <http://www.euro.who.int/aids>
).
Further information about hepatitis can be found on:
The ‘Am I Number 12?’ campaign has already kicked off in 55 countries and high-profile campaigns are being coordinated from Sydney to Serbia and from Beijing to Buenos Aires. Charles Gore, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance, said that with 1.5 million people dying every year, chronic viral hepatitis could no longer be ignored. “Through the ‘Am I Number 12?’ campaign and activities around the world on 19 May we aim to put hepatitis B and C firmly on the global healthcare agenda,” Mr Gore said.
Mr Gore said that, unlike other disease areas, awareness of hepatitis B and C remains inexplicably low: “We believe that, unless awareness improves, we won’t make any progress in reducing the enormous and largely preventable death toll. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C should have the same profile as HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB and should really be up there alongside those diseases in the WHO’s millennium goals.”
Did You Know?
o 500 million people worldwide are currently infected with hepatitis B or C
o This is over 10 times the number infected with HIV/AIDS
o Between them, hepatitis B and C kill 1.5 million people a year
o One in every three people on the planet has been exposed to either or both viruses
o Most of the 500 million infected do not know
