In late 2023, we embarked on a journey to begin community-based consultations with people whose lives are affected by viral hepatitis. I’ve been able to visit dozens of sites and facilities across all regional health authorities, and talked to hundreds of frontline advocates, health care workers, outreach staff, peer workers, and people with lived and living experience, in particular with hepatitis C. I’d like to first thank our community partners, who have generously opened up their calendars and their contact lists to act as hosts during these outreach trips. While our work is not yet done, I wanted to offer my insights and observations with respect to emergent and recurring themes I’ve started to hear, from across communities and individuals.
Shifting Resources and Funding
One of the overarching themes highlighted in the community consultations is the need to reevaluate how resources and funding are allocated in the fight against hepatitis C. Future efforts by health authorities must acknowledge and deeply understand the life-saving work of peer workers who serve as community connectors, healers, and leaders. These individuals play a crucial role in bridging gaps in access to care and support, particularly for marginalized communities, including people who use drugs.
Furthermore, the consultations underscore the relentless efforts of frontline service providers who craft customized outreach and support plans for individuals facing multiple barriers to access. Recognizing and valuing their work is paramount to ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed.
Constant collaboration and communication between service providers and community-based organizations are also emphasized as essential components of effective service delivery. By providing “wraparound” services, including overdose prevention sites, dignified housing, and stigma-reduction initiatives, we can create more inclusive and supportive environments for those affected by hepatitis C.
Testing and Treatment Accessibility
Improving access to testing and treatment is crucial in our efforts to combat viral hepatitis. Community consultations have identified several areas for improvement in this regard. Firstly, there is a pressing need to increase access to low-barrier testing, like dried blood spot (DBS) sampling, and expediting the delivery of results. Point-of-care testing allows for quick and accessible initial results, particularly negative tests, which provide crucial information for individuals to use to make more informed choices. However, when a test comes back positive, service providers have advocated for the need to reduce BC Pharmacare’s requirements for additional testing needed for treatment approval. Providers have shared that reducing these requirements would improve the quality of care provided, as it would shorten the time from diagnosis to treatment initiation, and remove the burden of additional visits for many patients.
Adequate support, both in terms of funding and infrastructure, is also essential for medication adherence and outreach programs. By investing in these initiatives, we can ensure that individuals living with hepatitis C receive the comprehensive care and support they need to manage their condition effectively.
Communications and Stigma Reduction
Addressing stigma associated with viral hepatitis is a critical component of any effective strategy. Community consultations have emphasized the importance of destigmatizing viral hepatitis and encouraging testing for all community members, especially those in smaller or more remote communities. By fostering open and non-judgmental communication, we can create environments where individuals feel empowered to seek testing and treatment without fear of discrimination or shame.
The insights gleaned from community consultations provide a roadmap for action in our collective efforts to combat hepatitis C. By prioritizing the voices and experiences of those most directly impacted by the disease, we can build bridges where barriers once existed and work towards a future where viral hepatitis is no longer a threat to public health. It is imperative that we heed these insights, respectfully and forcefully centre the unique and valued voices of people with lived experience and the organizations who serve them, and take decisive action to ensure that all individuals have access to the care and support they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Our work is not yet done…
We know we are not yet connected to, or engaging, communities impacted by hepatitis B, among other gaps in our work. If you would like to contribute to the Roadmap, get in touch with me at joel@bchep.org. There are still opportunities to participate in community consultations, including a survey to map out current service provision across health authorities and interviews with people with lived and living experience of viral hepatitis, with a keen interest in those living with hepatitis B.
Joel Harnest (he/him) is a queer settler living on the unceded lands of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations since 2013. By trade and by passion, Joel is a facilitator and trusted convenor of anti-oppressive and dialogic spaces in which groups of people can make sense of complex issues impacting their lives, communities, and work. Joel has over 15 years’ experience in adult education, community engagement and group facilitation. Joel works on projects that align with his political and socio-cultural beliefs including queer and gender liberation, destigmatization of mental health and substance use, and anti-racist, decolonizing and anti-capitalist work, through a generous and compassionate trauma-informed lens.
Leave a Reply