Hepatitis C testing coming to Urenui Rodeo and Americarna
17 February 2020
If you can’t get people to the clinic, take the clinic to the people. In an effort to eradicate the hepatitis C virus from our community Taranaki DHB is doing just that and holding hepatitis C pop-up clinics at the Urenui Rodeo and Americarna.
This follows the successful Stratford and Hawera A&P shows pop up clinics where over 200 people receive free hepatitis C testing.
“More than 50,000 New Zealanders are living with the virus but don’t know it. So getting out amongst the community to raise awareness of the hep C virus is vital.” says Hepatitis C community clinician Dr Nadja Gottfert.
“Pop up clinics are a great way to do this and to offer those who identify as being at risk with point of care testing on the spot.”
Hep C is serious. It can rob you of your energy and lead to liver disease and/or cancer.
Hep C is transmitted by blood-to-blood activities that pierce the skin. You and your patients are at increased risk if you have:
- ever injected drugs
- ever received a tattoo or body piercing using unsterile equipment
- had a blood transfusion before 1992
- ever lived or received medical treatment in a high-risk country
- ever been in prison
- been born to a mother living with hep C.
The good news is there is a cure, Maviret, which is easy to get and easy to take.
Since April 2019, 400 people have been screened in Taranaki. Five of these tested positive and have since been treated and cured of the virus. This is a great step towards eradicating the virus from the Taranaki community and towards the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization’s goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.
Nadja says “It doesn’t matter how you got hep C, what’s important is getting cured so you can get on with your life.
“That’s why we’re offering the public an opportunity to come along to Americana and the Urenui Rodeo and get tested for free.”
EVENT INFO
Pop up clinic - Urenui Rodeo
- Saturday 29 February 2020 from 9:00am 4:00pm
Pop up clinic - Americarna
- Tuesday 18 February at TSB Stadium carpark between 1.00 - 7.00pm
- Saturday 22 February at Pukeariki Landing between 10.00am - 4.00pm
Last updated: Monday, February 17, 2020