Pacific Hepatitis C Network (PHCN) introduced their new hep C Peer Navigation program HELP 4 HEP BC. Presenters Deb Schmitz and Daryl Luster of Pacific Hepatitis C Network provided information on the new program and ways to help promote Help 4 Hep BC to clients, peers, participants, peeps, staff, colleagues, and community.
Daryl Luster
As a person who has lived with hepatitis C, Daryl aims to support, educate and inform those living with and affected by the virus. People with hepatitis C are frequently marginalized, something Daryl experienced first-hand. As an advocate, his goal is to affect change through cooperation and education to ensure a better pathway to care, including the entire continuum from prevention to screening to treatment and beyond. Along with coordinating PHCN¹s Help 4 Hep BC service, Daryl is himself a Peer navigator with Help 4 Hep BC and Help 4 Hep (US). He is the Knowledge Translation (KT) Core Lead for CanHepC (CIHR hepatitis C research hub) and sits on the Executive Committee of Action Hepatitis Canada.
Deb Schmitz
Deb has been involved in hep C work for 17 years, from community development and frontline support and education to program development and organizational development, with the past 9 years at PCHN. Deb serves now as PHCN’s Operations Manager while living on the currently very wet Sunshine Coast.