POST-CURE HEPATITIS C EMILY MALE AMY HATFIELD
v There are currently 199,000 people living with chronic Hepatitis C v Hepatitis C is highly stigmatized due to the association with injecting drug use v Since the introduction of DAA in 2016, 60,000 people have been cured of Hepatitis C v DAA treatment is highly effective v Risk of relapse is rare and Hepatitis C does not appear to BACKGROUND have a latent reservoir v Once cured you will always test positive for the HCV anti- bodies and you are not immune and can be re-infected
BARRIERS TO ELIMINATING HEP C There are several barriers to eliminating Hepatitis C including Ø Lack of Needle Syringe Programs in prisons and coverage in community Ø Criminalization of peer distribution of needles and syringes Ø Criminalization response to injecting drug use prioritized over a public harm and health based approach Ø Stigma can prevent individuals accessing health care services
BARRIERS TO POST CURE HEPATITIS C INDIVIDUALS v Applying for Insurance v Blood Donation v Organ Donation v Sperm Donation v Health Care Workers who may perform Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP’s) v Members and Applicants for the Australian defense force v Some martial arts competition run by the Martial Arts Federation v Applying for an Australian Visa in some circumstances
BLOOD DONATION
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
v No right to donate blood v Discrimination law The Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) Cain v Australian Red Cross Society [2009] TASADT 03 IS THIS Norman v Australian Red Cross Society 1998 DISCRIMINATION? 14 VAR 24
AREAS FOR CHANGE AND ADVOCACY
GOING FORWARD
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