Hep C Logo.jpg
 
 

LIVE CAMPAIGN

Hep C Action Niue

The Hep C Action team formulated a vision to cure a country of viral hepatitis. The Niue hepatitis C elimination campaign presents a unique opportunity to empower local health practitioners to test, treat and cure their whole population from the virus.

Through tireless efforts the Hep C Action has raised money from both within New Zealand and overseas to launch this campaign. For the price of one branded course of hep C treatment in the US, we are able to test, treat and cure Niue from viral hepatitis.

From July 2020 finger prick tests will be sent to Niue for their medical staff to begin the testing patients. The intention is to test every Niuean in-country, assisted by running a public health campaign on local radio and news outlets. Once the population of 1600

Seed the Change | He Kākano Hāpai

Niue is calling for the elimination of hepatitis C in New Zealand by 2025, five years ahead of the WHO target. The first time since penicillin that there is the ability to eliminate a global top 5 infectious disease.

Seed the Change | He Kākano Hāpai is proud to be a founding partner of Hep C Action Aotearoa, providing project support, resourcing and funding to this campaign that will save lives.

Since it’s inception Hep C Action Aotearoa has been successfully bringing patient voices to the elimination campaign. The team had seats on the Ministry of Health’s Steering Committee for the national elimination strategy, and is now renouned for it’s positive, forward focused messaging on this highly stigmatised virus. Hep C Action is increasingly having global reach and recognition for it’s work in the elimination campaign.

Seed the Change | He Kākano Hāpai is supporting the team to identify and activate key levers enact systemic change both nationally and globally.

We invite you to join in and support this campaign.

 
butter man.png

aa

 

The Hep C Butterfly - a symbol of the elimination campaign

The butterfly symbol is like the red ribbon for HIV and intended for global use by anyone working in the broad field of Hepatitis C elimination. There is no cost to use the symbol and the copyright has been assigned to the public domain. It symbolises the transformative effect that antiviral treatment has on patients cured of the disease and the beauty of restoring people to full health again.

 
 
“Now that there is a cure my advocacy is about bringing the virus into the light and out of the dark. ”
— Hazel Heal speaking to Braveheart Christchurch.
 

How to get involved

Success will depend on key stakeholders coming together to address this hidden health issue. We are calling for:

1. Elimination of HCV by 2025     

2. Treatment Equality  

3. Government Leadership

4. Public Health Campaign

5. A Collaborative Approach

6. Funding support.

 

 What's the challenge?

Over 50,000 people are estimated to be infected with Hepatitis C in Aotearoa New Zealand, with half being undiagnosed. This compares to approximately 3,500 people living with HIV in New Zealand.

HepC Action Aotearoa is calling for the elimination of Hepatitis C in New Zealand by 2025, five years ahead of the WHO target, and the same target date adopted by the United Kingdom.

Infection has often occurred through accidental transmission, for example through dental work carried out over 20 years ago, or through incarceration. This has created a human rights issue, including the State’s duty of care that has not been publicly acknowledged.

This highly stigmatised public health issue will be addressed through the normalising of “test and treat” campaign, piloted in prisons, accompanied by a review of the legislation to remove structural barriers to treatment.  

Join us as we embark on a national campaign to raise awareness. 

 
 
The Butterfly Effect - The celebrities who suffered from hepatitis C before the cure. The Listener’s journalist Russell Brown profiles hep C and the Hep C Action Aotearoa team.

The Butterfly Effect - The celebrities who suffered from hepatitis C before the cure. The Listener’s journalist Russell Brown profiles hep C and the Hep C Action Aotearoa team.

 
 
Transparent-Sticker-web.png