Regina testing clinic aims to bring awareness to World Hepatitis Day
All Nations Hope Network hosted a Hepatitis C testing clinic on Wednesday to help spread awareness of World Hepatitis Day.
The goal of the day, which is recognized on July 28, is to raise awareness and stop the spread of the virus.
The clinic offered a finger prick test, which takes about five minutes and will tell the patient if they have been exposed to Hepatitis C. If the test is positive, the person will be referred to get blood tests to see if the virus is present in their body. If they do, they will be referred to treatment.
All Nations Hope Network said hosting the testing clinics is important to the community.
“Having the resources right here and in our centre to meet the needs of our community, where (in) other areas they may feel stigmatized, feel not welcome,” said Carolyn Pelletier, a community-based research navigator with All Nations Hope, said. “You want the best help for everybody and we’ve built a relationship here and they trust us. After a coffee and something to eat, we encourage them to come in and get testing judgement free.”
Pam Ford, a Hepatitis C consult nurse, said the virus attacks the liver and is called the silent killer because most people who have it don’t know they have been infected.
“There are no side effects specific to Hepatitis C until the virus starts to do some damage,” Ford said. “Once that starts to happen, obviously you will start to notice whether you know you end up with cirrhosis, possibly a liver cancer, you might notice some yellowing of your eyes or your skin.”
She added that about 250,000 Canadians are currently living with Hepatitis C and approximately 44 per cent of those don’t even know they have the virus.
Ford said it is very easy for the virus to spread, adding that it is most commonly spread through drug paraphernalia and home-made tattoos.
“The virus is strong. It can live on a surface for us to 60 days, so 100 per cent bleach is the only thing that will get rid of it,” she said.
According to Ford, Hepatitis C is 100 per cent curable with treatment consisting of medication that is taken daily for a couple of months.
She said nurses throughout Canada are working with the World Health Organization to eradicate the virus by 2030, which can only be done through testing and treatment.
“If we can start eliminating people’s virus and getting rid of it so they aren’t sharing it, passing it onto somebody else, those would be the biggest steps.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Auston Matthews returns for Game 7, but Leafs minus injured goaltender Joseph Woll
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews returned to the lineup for Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.