A goal to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030
On July 28, 2021, people across the globe come together to acknowledge World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and the global effort to eliminate it.
But what exactly is hepatitis, and why is it a global health problem?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection. There are five main hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, and E) and they can cause illness and death that can have the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread throughout the world.
Chronic hepatitis B and C are life-threatening infectious diseases that cause serious liver damage, cancer, and premature death. More than 300 million people are living with the hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses worldwide. Of those 300 million people affected by hepatitis B and hepatitis C, those hardest hit tend to be the more marginalized groups of society, including people who use drugs, Indigenous people, prisoners, men who have sex with men, migrants, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
Although effective vaccines/treatment for hepatitis B and a cure for Hepatitis C exist, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done in order to reach the WHO Goal of Viral Hepatitis Elimination by 2030.
CUPS Liver Clinic
Globally, 90 per cent of people living with hepatitis B and 80 per cent living with hepatitis C are unaware they are living with the disease, resulting in the real possibility of developing fatal liver disease or liver cancer at some point in their lives and in some cases, unknowingly transmitting the infection to others.
At the CUPS Liver Clinic, our team works hard to screen and treat these infectious diseases to ensure early detection and proper treatment is accessible. The CUPS Liver Clinic serves clients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and cirrhosis through consultations with a Registered Nurse and Infectious Disease specialist.
Infectious disease screening, disease monitoring and treatment, vaccinations, and ongoing education through the CUPS Liver Clinic has resulted in increased access to liver care for the marginalized populations of the Calgary area.
The impact of COVID-19 on liver patients
COVID-19 had a huge impact on CUPS clientele since March 2020; not only in regards to their liver care, but to their physical and mental health overall. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the CUPS Liver Clinic was able to successful start 70 people on hepatitis C treatment from April 2020-March 2021; a tough challenge due to the decreased access that most clients had to any healthcare services during this time.
The CUPS Liver Clinic has transitioned to a mostly remote service, allowing us to remove physical barriers to having clients start on hepatitis C treatment quickly and confidently.
The CUPS Liver Clinic is still available for direct client referrals or on-site visits for anyone wanting to access liver care in the community.
Take a moment to learn about Mardi, a CUPS Liver Clinic client who was living with hepatitis C and was able to achieve viral cure through her involvement with the CUPS Liver Clinic last year.
Recognizing World Hepatitis Day
Although COVID-19 has given us a lot to think about this past 16 months, let’s take July 28 to acknowledge World Hepatitis Day!
With the availability of effective vaccines and treatments for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C, the elimination of viral hepatitis is achievable. However, greater awareness and understanding of the viral hepatitis and the risks is a must, as is access to cheaper diagnostics and treatment.
CUPS Liver Clinic questions/concerns? Please give us a call at 403-991-1930 or email us directly at liverclinic@cupscalgary.com
Submitted by Kate Newcombe, Registered Nurse – Liver Clinic
https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/what-viral-hepatitis-0
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246177/WHO-HIV-2016.06-eng.pdf?ua=1