World Hepatitis Day 2020 was on Tuesday July 28. This year, with COVID-19 restrictions in place, we took our message about hepatitis care online. And while COVID-19 is on everyone’s minds, World Hepatitis Day reminds us of the importance of maintaining other areas of our healthcare during this difficult time.
Through online platforms CEH staff connected with audiences from across the sector and the community, raising awareness about the prevention of, and testing & treatment for, hepatitis.
‘Let’s Talk Hep’ with M-CAN on World Hepatitis Day 2020
CEH’s Multicultural Community Action Network (M-CAN) team also found new ways to connect with our communities for World Hepatitis Day this year.
M-CAN used Zoom to film 6 videos -3 in English & 3 in Chinese- with our M-CAN members from the Chinese community. These videos featuring important discussions around hepatitis during this new normal world of COVID-19. The videos explored questions around testing, vaccinations and management of hepatitis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch the videos HERE
Eliminating viral hepatitis and adapting to COVID-19, a Burnet Institute Webinar
More than 200,000 people in Australia are living with hepatitis B. The disease can be successfully managed if treated early. The majority of people living with hepatitis B in Australia come from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Co-Manager of the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, Alison Coelho shared her expertises on viral hepatitis and CALD communities at the Burnet Institute webinar Eliminating viral hepatitis and adapting to COVID-19. Alison spoke alongside a panel of sector and community experts as part of this discussion held on World Hepatitis Day 2020. The webinar explored;
- Outreach models for engaging people living with hepatitis
- Integrated Care Models for harm reduction, and
- Impact of COVID-19 on viral hepatitis care and services
Talking to the importance of community engagement in addressing hepatitis, Alison reaffirmed the importance of placing communities at the centre of all health interventions.
“As we work towards the elimination of viral hepatitis and other health issues that disproportionately affect marginalised groups including ethnic communities, we must be mindful of the social, cultural and structural barriers that prevent good health for all,” Alison said.
Spotlight on Hepatitis B webinar series
The ‘Spotlight on Hepatitis B’ webinar series saw four online sessions held over July and August. The themes of these sessions were;
- Hepatitis B basics: Who is affected, how to prevent it and priority communities
- Chronic hepatitis B testing and management
- Structural challenges influencing hepatitis B care
- Improving hepatitis B care
These webinars engaged participants from the healthcare sector and the community.
The Spotlight on hepatitis B webinar series was coordinated through the Victorian Hepatitis B Alliance (VHBA), and featured staff from CEH sharing their expertise. The VHBA is an independent, multi-disciplinary community of practice that aims to build momentum behind the Victorian response to hepatitis B. The VHBA consists of members from across the sector, and of individuals with an interest in Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B Made Easy – A CEH & St Vincent’s Hospital Webinar
CEH will continue the message of hepatitis care through the upcoming webinar series ‘Hepatitis B Made Easy,’ presented in partnership with St Vincent’s Hospital. The first of these sessions will be held on August 20. These workshops will help participants:
- understand the basic facts about hepatitis B testing, diagnosis, transmission & treatment
- explore strategies that meet the needs of affected communities
- gain knowledge on how to deliver appropriate health literate and culturally competent care to people affected by hepatitis B
- learn about resources, supports and websites that assist health workers and the affected communities to seek help.
Registration is FREE