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Hepatitis C and Aboriginal Communities
How does hep C affect Aboriginal Communities in Australia?
Hep C is five times higher in Our Mob. About one third of people in NSW prisons are Aboriginal. In prison, injecting equipment and tattooing and body piercing equipment is often shared. These end up getting shared lots of times, so there is a big risk of getting hep C.
Not enough of Our Mob are getting treated for hep C. Get yourself treated and make a change.
Why it’s important to know your hep C status and test if you’ve been at risk
Hep C is a sickness of the liver. If left untreated, it can slowly damage your liver. After many years, the damage can turn into scars. Hep C can quietly damage your liver, so there are usually no signs you have it. The only way to know if you have hep C is to get a blood test. So, if you think you’ve been at risk for hep C, it’s important to get tested.
Did you know that hep C can be cured?
The good news is there are treatments that can cure your hep C! The new treatments are different to the older treatments, they:
- Cure around 95%, or more, of people who take them (even if someone has cirrhosis).
- Have minimal side-effects.
- Last for just 12 weeks (in most cases).
- Involve just a few pills each day (no injections).
Did you know treatment can be done by doctors, at the AMS or local clinic, not just hospitals?
Did you know the medications are covered under Close the Gap?
Talk to someone at the Hepatitis Infoline to learn more
If you’d like to speak with someone who knows a lot about hep C, or learn more about what to expect from hep C treatment, contact the Hepatitis Infoline today.
For psychological, online support aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (bulk billed) read this flyer >>
You can also take a look at our hep C booklet for Aboriginal people, Yarnin’ about hep C.
You can download posters about COVID-19 for Aboriginal communities, like this one about Staying Connected and more posters here.
Click here to see our Detailed hep C information page >>
To learn all about STI’s
Do you have a question about STI’s? Take a look at the Take Blaktion website for ‘everything you need to know for a healthy and confident sex life’.
