Carea
Chronic Disease Management

Hepatitis C Team & Harm Reduction

The Hepatitis C Team Program provides viral Hepatitis C (HCV) Risk assessment, Screening Treatment, Care and Support for those living with, at risk for and those affected by HCV. We are working at eradicating viral Hepatitis by 2030 (WHO, 2016).

The Hepatitis C Team Program offers the services of an interprofessional team, which consists of a consulting Hepatologist, Hepatitis C Treatment Nurse, Outreach Worker,  Social Worker and Program Coordinator. The members of the HCV team work collaboratively to provide seamless multidisciplinary care and treatment for HCV. The team offers support to clients at risk of acquiring, living with, or affected by Hep C.  They also offer post-treatment for Hep C, and comprehensive medical-and psycho-social support and treatment, in collaboration and consultation with the team-treating physician.


We offer: 

  • Hepatitis C Education and Awareness
  • Point of Care Screening and Dry Blood Spot Screening
  • Fibroscan Clinic
  • Treatment Options
  • Counselling support services providing case management, advocacy and emotional support
  • Harm reduction supplies and Naloxone
  • Hep C Support and Peer Support Groups
  • Outreach services bridging at risk groups to clinical and community services

 Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention Program

Provides confidential and anonymous support for people who use substances by supplying injection and inhalation drug tools, Naloxone (Narcan), and overdoes prevention training to help reduce the harm and risks associated with substance use disorder.Working closely with the Hepatitis C Team, people can be screened for Hepatitis C and connected to care timely and seamlessly. The team can also offer testing for other STBBI’s, addiction services, counselling, and primary care. The Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention Team provides accepting and non-judgmental support for those who use drugs or are affected by a person who sufferers from substance use disorder.

 Resources Available are:

  • Safer injection and inhalation drug supplies
  • Safer drug use and prevention education
  • Overdose prevention training
  • Naloxone (Narcan) kits and refills
  • Support and referrals to addiction services
  • Connecting to Hep C, HIV, and STBBI testing
  • Connecting to Primary Care and Counselling


What is Hep C?

Hepatitis C (hep C) is a virus that harms the liver. The liver is an organ that does many important jobs, such as changing food into energy, cleaning out toxins from the body and storing vitamins.

The only way to know if you have hepatitis C is to get tested.

Most people who get hep C go on to develop a long-term (or chronic) infection. About one in four people with hep C clears the virus on their own, without treatment; the rest can be cured of hep C by taking medication.

Many people with hepatitis C feel well and do not experience any symptoms for years, but the virus can still be injuring the liver.

Over time the liver can become scarred—this is called fibrosis. If hepatitis C is left untreated and the liver becomes more damaged, a person is more likely to experience symptoms, such as swelling in the legs or yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice). When the liver becomes more severely injured and scarred, this is called cirrhosis. After many years a person may develop liver cancer or their liver could stop working.

There are six strains, or genotypes, of the hepatitis C virus—genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.

HCV Support Groups:

The Durham CHC HCV program offers weekly and bi-weekly support groups at multiple locations. These groups act as a safe space where individuals can receive information, social support, education and preparation for the demanding treatment cycle. Groups are a welcoming space where a sense of community can be fostered by individuals who are going through a similar experience and where issues and challenges are discussed openly in a judgement-free zone. Groups are offered at the following locations:

 
  • Oshawa - John Howard Soctiety and Carea - Oshawa location
  • Ajax Library
  • Peterborough
 
These groups are facilitated by the team  and are also supported by peers who  have life experience.

For more information about Hep C or to speak with a member of the Hep C Team...
Call toll free at 1-855-808-6242

Or click the below links for valuable information about Hep C

POSITIVE CARE http://www.centraleasthealthline.ca
PETERBOROUGH AIDS RESEARCH NETWORK http://www.parn.ca
CATIE www.catie.ca
HEALTH CANADA http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/dc-ma/hep-eng.php
OATC http://www.oatc.ca/clinic/oshawa/
JOHN HOWARD DURHAM https://jhsdurham.on.ca/
AIDS COMMITTEE OF DURHAM REGION http://www.aidsdurham.com