Did you know that nine out of ten people living with hepatitis globally don’t know they have it?
Wednesday 28 July 2021 marks World Hepatitis Day (WHD). WHD is acknowledged each year to bring the world together to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change. This year’s theme is ‘Hepatitis Can’t Wait‘.
More than 225,000 people in Australia are living with hepatitis B – only about 60% of these people are aware that they have hepatitis B. The majority of people living with hepatitis B in Australia come from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
We need to take action and raise awareness of hepatitis because, Hepatitis Can’t Wait – not even in the current COVID-19 crisis.
There are several ways you can join us to help spread the message of hepatitis testing and treatment on WHD 2021:
North Richmond Community Health (NRCH) Café Activity
NRCH will be providing information about hepatitis (testing, treatment, access and uptake) to clients and local residents.
When: Wednesday 28 July 2021 | 12pm – 2PM
Location: Front of NRCH | 23 Lennox Street, Richmond VIC 3121
This will be a COVIDSafe activity.
World Hepatitis Day Virtual Broadcast (hosted by Australasian Hepatology Association, supported by Gilead)
A panel of nurses from across Australia, including NRCH’s Medically Supervised Injecting Room’s Registered Nurse, Jen Anderson will be sharing reflections about their professional journeys to highlight the work that needs to be done in the elimination of hepatitis.
When: Wednesday 28 July 2021 | 9am to 10am
Location: Online event | CLICK HERE to register
Spotlight on hepatitis B
Join our Multicultural Health & Support Service (MHSS) as part of the Victorian Hepatitis B Alliance (VHBA) for this year’s HBV Spotlight series, shining a light on Hepatitis B in Australia.
When: 22 July to 11 August 2021
Where: Online event | CLICK HERE to register
As part of our ongoing commitment to improving STI/BBV testing and treatment outcomes for people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, the Centre for Cultural, Ethnicity & Health provides community and sector education, resources and more. Our Multicultural Health & Support Service (MHSS) works with communities and health professionals to address the poorer health outcomes experienced by people from refugee & migrant backgrounds, asylum seekers and mobile populations. It aims to prevent HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections.
MHSS is proud to be able to offer peer and community developed and designed health promotion resources to other organisations and supportive services throughout Victoria and Australia.
As part of the WHD 2021 campaign the Multicultural Health & Support Service team is developing and producing a short and easy to understand pocket guide: info-graph, encouraging CALD communities to catch up and keep up with their health checks, especially around testing for Hepatitis B. Watch this space.
This new resource will support the message of our ongoing Catch Up Care Campaign – reminding our communities to catch up on medical testing that may have been delayed due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 has significantly interrupted hepatitis screening & monitoring in Australia. It’s impacted access to health care services, with 20% fewer people receiving hepatitis screening compared to the expected number in 2020.
To help combat a reduction in STI/BBV screening since the onset of COVID-19 MHSS is encouraging communities to CATCH UP and KEEP UP on testing and treatment for STI/BBVs, including hepatitis.
Hepatitis can’t wait. Get tested. Get treated. You can help us spread the #catchupcare message by sharing our #catchupcare resources found here.
For more hepatitis resources visit;