hepVoice Vol 34 March 2019 | Page 10

WHA has recently welcomed seven new members to the organisation which now represents 273 members across 90 countries. Charitable Fund “Humanitarian Action” - Russian Federation Charitable Fund “Humanitarian Action” works to prevent infection of HIV and viral hepatitis in Russia. Although HIV is their primary focus, Charitable Fund “Humanitarian Action” offer testing for hepatitis C, targeting PWIDs and sex workers with the help of their hepatitis-branded van. Their referral system with St. Petersburg Hospital ensures hepatitis C patients are linked to the care they need. On top of this, they also offer primary prevention education on hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and monitor State procurement of hepatitis C drugs. Follow them on Facebook Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana - Ghana Hepatitis features predominantly in the Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana’s constitution. Their mission is to decrease incidents of new infection of viral hepatitis and to improve the lives of those individuals affected by the disease in Ghana through education and follow up care. Their main objectives are: to raise public awareness about hepatitis (particularly amongst women and children); capacity build for healthcare providers in the area of hepatitis prevention; provide psychosocial support for those living with viral hepatitis; to conduct research; to influence public health policy; and to collaborate with other organisations who share a similar vision. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter Seed The Change – New Zealand A NOhep supporter and one of the NOhep Villagers at the Global Hepatitis Summit in Toronto last June, Seed the Change is a New Zealand-based initiative which exists to help manifest an environmentally sustainable, equitable and joyous world. Their hepatitis activities are channelled through their ‘Hep C Action Aotearoa’ project. This, at essence, is a patient advocacy group which hopes to propel elimination in Aotearoa by 2025 – five years ahead of the WHO target. A key part of their work is to combat stigma around the virus through the national and global promotion of their butterfly symbol. Their work ranges from representing the patient voice on the Ministry of Health national steering committee for hep C elimination, to supporting patients who have been diagnosed . Follow them on Twitter and Instagram 10 hep Voice MARCH 2019 United Way Mumbai – India As part of the 130-year-old international movement “United Way”, United Way Mumbai has a broad remit of work covering numerous social issues. They partake in substantial viral hepatitis-related work channelled through their Yuvroshni, Pahal and SEHAT projects. They are practitioners of the Information-Education-Communication (IEC) model and work to build community participation and targeted immunisation. To celebrate World Hepatitis Day over the past few years, they have held week-long celebrations. Last year, they also adopted the Find the Missing Millions campaign. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Community Development Awareness and Health Empowerment Foundation (CDAHEF) – Nigeria CDAHEF’s vision is to contribute meaningfully towards the elimination of viral hepatitis in Oyo State, Nigeria. Recently, they have attended the 1st Nigerian Hepatitis Summit in 2018, conducted trainings for organisations who could not attend the Summit, and enabled other organisations to join the Hepatitis Network. They also offer outreach and education on viral hepatitis, drug adherence counselling, testing and screening, and advocate relevant stakeholders in Nigeria. Siddiqui Foundation – Pakistan Siddiqui Foundation works under the banner of ‘prevention is better than cure’, having set up a project of the same name in 2012 to raise awareness of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, AIDs and Polio. As part of this project, Siddiqui Foundation have set up free hepatitis screening camps and have found that for every 100 individuals screened in Pakistan, 16 to 20 are living with viral hepatitis. The organisation also raises awareness through printed brochures and public announcements, as well as seminars and workshops across different institutional platforms. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook. Hepatitis Zimbabwe Trust – Zimbabwe WHA’s first member in Zimbabwe, Hepatitis Zimbabwe Trust, delivers awareness activities and support for people living with viral hepatitis through education, anti-stigma and community development activities following the Ottawa Charter principles. They also lobby their government to provide services for referral pathways for screening and treatment. Their goal is to equip Zimbabwean people with knowledge so they can have control over their own health. hep Voice MARCH 2019 11