Last Weeks Speaker

 
 
 
 
HEPATITIS AWARENESS
 
Ian Armstrong introduced Kevin Sheehan.  ian had first met Kevin on board a bus in San Francisco in 1976. Since then they have been friends, competitors and even
colleagues when they served together on the Board of REIV (The Real Estate Institute of Victoria). Needless to say, they are still friends.
 Kevin is the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Melbourne.
 
Kevin told us that END HEPATITIS NOW is one of 5 Centenary Projects being implemented by the Rotary Club of Melbourne.
The project encompasses an International component as well as a National one
The Australasian (international) component involves vaccination of 100,000 children in the Asia Pacific. It will be delivered in cooperation with UNICEF, with funding from Rotary Club of  Melbourne and other Rotary Clubs, together with a Global Grant. This part of the project has experienced significant delays, as many of the recipient countries are COVID free and so have closed borders.
The national project involves making Australians aware of this 'Silent Epidemic.'
This arm of the project has progressed at a greater rate than expected because Zoom meetings have made it easier to carry the message throughout Australia.
 
Kevin introduced Martin Forrest, Health Promotion Programs Manager at Hepatitis Victoria. Martin would tell us more about Hepatitis, its challenges and management.
 
Hepatitis Victoria is a not for profit organisation working for people affected by or at risk of viral hepatitis and liver disease. Their vision: a Victorian community where there are no new infections of viral hepatitis, and where those who have the virus are able to maximise their health and wellbeing.
Hepatitis Infoline  1800 703 003
 
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, and Viral Hepatitis is the most common type of liver inflammation.
There are a number of different types of hepatitis caused by different and distinct viruses, but the purpose of this presentation was to educate us on Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis (HCV), both chronic diseases which can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.
A few details:
  • over 70% of all liver cancers are due to viral hepatitis.
  • Liver cancer is the fastest growing cause of cancer death in Australia.
  • It is estimated that 30% of HBV in Australia is undiagnosed
  • Hepatitis B can be managed, though not cured.
  • A vaccine for HBV is available
  • A simple and effective treatment can cure Hep C
  • All children born in Australia are vaccinated
Martin Introduced Mei, a young woman with 2 teenage sons who has a lived experience of hepatitis.
Mei told us her story of diagnosis and management of Hep B , as well as an incident where she felt she had been stigmatised for having hepatitis.
 
WORLD HEPATITIS DAY held annually on July 28,
is a day sponsored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to promote awareness of Hepatitis around the world, and encourage testing, treatment and vaccinations. 
Its goal: “get people into treatment in the most empowering and destigmatising way.” What matters is that people can access treatment; how they contracted the virus is irrelevant.  
 
How to help?
 
 
 A few interesting links for more information: