Hep C
September 10th 2020
Hey there Caddyshackers,
Spring has sprung, it is time for all things pretty flowers, fresh vibes and hay fever sneezes!
Who is HARP?
Short answer - we are!
If you have been following us for a while, or if you have caught up on our ‘About Us’ section of our website, you might recognise the acronym HARP. It’s our professional name - The HIV & Related Programs (HARP) unit.
It has been a while since we have touched on the H part of our HARP unit acronym, so this month our blogs will focus on the blood borne viruses - Hepatitis C and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
Hepatitis C
To kick start our month of blood borne viruses, this blog we are focusing on Hepatitis C - so keep on reading for some fun facts.
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is the body’s second largest organ second only to your skin! The liver is the start of the body’s toxin filtration system, so it is a pretty big deal to keep it as healthy as possible.
How is it passed on?
Hepatitis C, or Hep C as us cool kids like to call it, has been around since the mid-late 80’s.
It is transmitted in blood and can be passed on through things like sharing injecting drug equipment, getting a home done tattoo or piercing or any blood to blood contact ie medical procedure, fighting etc.
Is there a cure?
You cannot see Hep C, it is impacting the liver internally and it may not even make you sick for long time.
What we can do is cure it.
Treatment’s these days are fab, effective and don’t have the nasty side effects of the medications used in the early days of the virus.
How do I know if I have got it?
Test! The only way you can know for certain if you have Hep C or not is by testing!
Testing is as easy as a blood sample.
Even if it was just one fit you shared at a party back in the 90’s, even if it was just your first tattoo that you got in cousin Johnnies bedroom after he bought a fully sick tattoo gun off eBay, there is a chance you may be a risk.
Who we are loving right now
There is no denying that Hep C has been stigmatised for a long time, what we need to do now, is move past that stigma and move towards better health for all! Blood borne viruses do not discriminate, humans do.
The best way to stop the stigma and discrimination is to hear the stories of those with lived experience.
Ceen and Heard Project
Right now we are loving the Ceen and Heard Project!
These folks are super awesome for sharing their experience not only as a source of education but also as a source of empowerment for their peers.
To hear from these gems check out the Ceen and Heard project run by Hepatitis NSW
Where do I go for more info?
Thought you might ask that!
For more general info on Hep C and where to get tested, jump on Hepatitis NSW website.
Until next time
Peace, Love & Protection
x