Hepatitis Awareness Week
18 May 2009 will mark the first day of National Hepatitis Awareness week. The week is coordinated nationally by Hepatitis Australia with the support of state and territory hepatitis organisations. Awareness raising events and activities will occur throughout the week across the country
Hepatitis B and C are the most common of the notifiable blood borne diseases in Australia. These conditions are a major public health issue and represents a significant health burden for those affected.
Over 200,000 people in Australia are affected by Hepatitis C. Of this group, at least 20 per cent are expected to develop cirrhosis of the liver and of these, approximately 25 percent will require a liver transplant or will die from liver failure.
What's on?
Monday 18 May
9.30am - 1.00pm Launch & Forum: Could we all be doing more to prevent hepatitis C? Level 2 Training Area, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 250-290 Spring Street
Guest speakers include The Honourable Daniel Andrews - the Minister will launch the forum and the week, Dr Jim Hyde - Director of Public Health, Department of Human Services and Assoc Prof Bebe Loff - Head of the Human Rights and Bioethics Unit, Monash Uni
Tuesday 19th May
10.30am - 11.30am Love Your Liver Forum - ACMI Function Space, Federation Square - for people living with hepatitis and those working in the sector
12.00pm - 1.00pm Love Your Liver Lunch - Chocolate Budda - Federation Square - free for people living with hepatitis
1.00pm - 4.00pm Official Launch and Rock Concert - Federation Square Stage
Wednesday 20th May
10.00am - 3.30pm Community Forum - Spotlight on Hepatitis B - ARCSHS 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne
Thursday 21st May
3.00pm - 4.30pm Public Forum - Hepatitis C Discussion - discrimination and advocacy: what is it and what can you do about it? Hepatitis C Victoria, Suite 5, 200 Sydney Road, Brunswick
Further information
For more information and how to RSVP please visit the Hepatitis Victoria website.