A free community information session is being held next week to shine a light on the disease Hepatitis C.
\nBellarine Community Health is hosting the event with support from Hepatitis Victoria.
\nHepatitis Victoria is the state\u2019s peak body advocating on behalf of people living with viral hepatitis and liver disease.
\nBCH received a small cash grant to stage the event, which Adult and Aged Services Executive Director Karen Harris hopes will help reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re encouraging those people living with Hep C and their family and friends to come along and learn more about the latest treatments and speak to the experts about the disease,\u201d Ms Harris said.
\nRaising awareness about viral hepatitis is one of Hepatitis Victoria\u2019s most important tasks as ignorance and stigma lead to the death of up to six Victorians every week as a consequence of the condition.
\n\u201cOur small grants go to an amazing array of community projects, from the length and breadth of the state and they all help raise awareness about viral hepatitis and break down the stigma that surrounds this condition,\u201d Hepatitis Victoria CEO Melanie Eagle said.
\nThe two-hour free information session will include expert speakers from Bellarine Community Health and Barwon Health, and will cover topics such as the needle syringe program, past and current treatments available, harm minimisation and the importance of diet in liver health.
\nThe Hepatitis C information session is being held at Bellarine Community Health\u2019s Drysdale site at 23 Palmerston Street, on Wednesday August 28 from 3pm to 5pm.
\nThe Hepatitis Victoria Infoline is 1800 703 003.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A free community information session is being held next week to shine a light on the disease Hepatitis C. Bellarine Community Health is hosting the event with support from Hepatitis Victoria. Hepatitis Victoria is the state\u2019s peak body advocating on behalf of people living with viral hepatitis and liver disease. BCH received a small cash […]<\/p>\n