BC EVENTS
Date: May 31, 2015
Time: 12:00 – 4:00pm
Location: Britannia Community Centre, 1661 Napier Street, Vancouver
Co-hosted by: BC Centre for Disease Control, World Hepatitis Day Vancouver Planning Committee, First Nation Health Authority, HepCBC Hepatitis C Education & Prevention Society, Pacific Hepatitis C Network, Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth & Families, and S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, the Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada and Hepatitis Services, and the BC Centre for Disease Control – Hepatitis C Services have partnered to launch the National Aboriginal Hep C Awareness Month.
The awareness campaign was designed to highlight the right of Aboriginal People to access and benefit from hep C prevention, education, and awareness. It was also designed to highlight their right to access related care, treatment, and supports needed to maintain a quality of life in a culturally appropriate manner.
Research indicates that infection rates for hep C are higher among Aboriginal people (1% to 18%) compared with other Canadians (0.5% to 2%).
The higher rates of hep C among Aboriginal people are directly linked to an inequality of health services. Poor health, poverty, low education, limited housing, and high unemployment may also be factors that contribute to the spread of hep C.
The patterns of infection and the various factors that place Aboriginal people at risk are different from other Canadians, thus, hep C prevention, education, and health promotion, should be different as well.
The National Aboriginal Hepatitis C Awareness Month was launched in hopes of an increased participation, collaboration, and meaningful engagement and awareness about hep C.