Community

Need to Act on Hepatitis D Now

The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) has recently rejected an application for a new drug, bulevirtide, to be be available at subsidised rates for for treatment of hepatitis D, despite …

Turning the Tide of Hepatitis C Treatment in Machar Colony

In southern Pakistan’s Sindh province, on the edge of Karachi’s bustling fish harbour, sits Machar Colony. It is an informal settlement where life is harsh, often unkind, and plagued by overcrowding, …

William Donohue – Farewell to a Champion and Friend

Hepatitis SA staff were saddened to hear of the passing of Dr William Donohue. Not all of us have met him personally, but we were all aware of his significant …

AIVL Health and Human Rights Summit

In the past AIVL summits and AGMs were in Canberra because that’s where the AIVL offices were situated. We needed somewhere fresh, and Adelaide turned out to be perfect.

Introducing SAhrps

Hepatitis SA’s peer-based needle and syringe program, NSP Peer Projects, is now called SA Harm Reduction Peer Services (SAhrps). This rebranding emphasises that the program offers more than just needle …

Reducing BBV Risks in the Permanent Make-up Industry

The permanent make up (PMU) industry in Australia is largely unregulated and while sad stories of botched eyebrows and misshapen lips gain media attention every now and then, less has …
image showing use of finger stick to extract a small drop of blood.

First Hepatitis B Rapid Testing in SA

After a long wait, hepatitis B point-of-care testing finally made its appearance at a community testing event in Adelaide. Hepatitis SA launched the first hepatitis B rapid testing clinic in …

Empowering Change, Reducing Stigma

Much has been said about the stigma around sexually transmitted infections (STI) and blood-borne-viruses (BBV). If you work with people living with HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, you would …

World Hepatitis Testing Week

The first ever World Hepatitis Testing Week starts on 18 November. Inspired by the European Testing Week campaign which had been running twice a year since 2013, World Hepatitis Testing …

Supporting Families Who Support Users

Supporting someone close to you who is struggling with drugs or alcohol issues can be lonely and stressful. Most people are not equipped to deal with the challenge, and don’t …

Full Circle – Gary’s Story

Gary Spence began his adult working life in the police. He moved on to community services and came full circle with a unique achievement: successfully lobbying for the inclusion of …

Why is Liver Cancer Rate Still Rising?

As we mark Liver Cancer Awareness Month, one question jumps out: Why is the rate of liver cancer increasing when there are effective ways to prevent it? The biggest risk …

International Overdose Awareness Day

International Overdose Awareness Day on 31 August is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those who have died and acknowledge the grief of those left behind.
montage of pictures from the viral hepatitis conference from ASHM

Viral Hepatitis Conference Wrap Up

The 14th Australasian Hepatitis Conference had a different feel to it, much like in the classic Australian movie The Castle, it was the vibe.