NZ health authorities launch Hep C campaign

Pop up clinics are happening at health providers across the country, including one in Mount Maunganui.

A renewed nationwide push is underway to get at-risk people tested for hepatitis C, because it has never been easier to be tested, treated and cured.

More than 100 New Zealanders die every year from hepatitis C, all of whom could have been saved by earlier diagnosis and treatment.   

Health New Zealand is working with a range of local providers to set up pop-up testing clinics across the motu to coincide with the week leading up to World Hepatitis Day (Sunday 28 July).

“These innovative approaches are an integral part of the National Hepatitis C National Action Plan 2020 - 2030 which began four years ago and has already achieved excellent results.  But with up to 25,000 kiwis still living with hepatitis C, there is still much work to do,” says Dr Ed Gane – the country’s leading expert in hepatitis C.

“We have been successful in reducing new hepatitis C infections with regionally led services testing and treating priority groups as part of the first phase of implementation of the National Hepatitis C Action Plan.

“Between February 2019 and June 2024, around 6400 New Zealanders with hepatitis C had received a course of the hepatitis C treatment Maviret through the public health system.

“You can access a free rapid finger-prick test for hepatitis C at many community sites and will get the result within minutes (see stickittohepc.co.nz). If you do have hepatitis C then there is an easy cure - Maviret tablets once a day eight weeks.

“I strongly urge anyone who thinks they may be in at-risk for hepatitis C infection (outlined below) to make every effort to attend a pop-clinic over the awareness week. This disease is ‘easy test, easy cure’,” says Dr Ed Gane.

Each year there are around 500 new infections of hepatitis C in Aotearoa New Zealand.

While some people with the disease experience unusual tiredness, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain, many people don’t notice any symptoms until irreparable liver damage has occurred.

If left untreated, up to a third of people with hepatitis C will develop a condition known as cirrhosis, which can progress to life-threatening liver cancer or liver failure.

“You can find out where to get a hepatitis C test by visiting stickittohepc.co.nz.”

You are at risk of hepatitis C if you:

  • have ever injected drugs or shared equipment
  • have ever received a tattoo or body piercing using unsterile equipment
  • had a blood product transfusion before 1992
  • have ever lived in a high-risk country or received medical treatment there
  • have ever been in prison
  • were born to a mother with hepatitis C.

World Hepatitis Day is not just about hepatitis C. In New Zealand almost 94,000 people are estimated to have hepatitis B.

The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand provides a free, lifelong, national monitoring programme for people living with hepatitis B to help improve health outcomes.

Pop up clinics are happening at health providers across the country.

Find an event in your local area:

Northern region: 

Date/Time

Location

Monday 22nd - Friday 26 July

All day

Body Positive

Poynton Tce

Auckland

Tuesday 23 July

10am-midday 

 

Merge Café,

K’Rd,

Auckland CBD

Wednesday 24th July

9.00am - midday

Auckland City Mission

Hobson St,

Auckland CBD

 

Thursday 25 July

9.00pm-5.00pm

NZPC | Aotearoa New Zealand Sex

Workers' Collective

Canada St,

Auckland CBD

Monday 22nd - Friday 26 July

All day

ADIO Needle Exchange

East St

Auckland CBD

 

 Central region:

Date/Time

Location

Thurs 25 July

11.30am-3.30pm

Fri 26 July

10.30am – 3.30pm

 

Wellington Regional Hospital

49 Riddiford Street,

Wellington 6021

Thurs 25 & Fri 26 July

11.30am – 3.30pm

 

Kenepuru Community Hospital

16 Hospital Drive,

Porirua 5022

 

Friday 26 July

11:30am – 3:30pm

 

Hutt Hospital

638 High Street,

Lower Hutt 5010

 

Thursday 25 July

11:30 am -3:30 pm

 

Wairarapa Hospital

Te Ore Ore Road,

Masterton 5810

 

Thursday 25 July

11:30 am – 3.30 pm

 

Palmerston North Regional Hospital

50 Ruahine Street,

Palmerston North 4442

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Te Manawa Taki (Midland) Region: 

Date/Time

Location

Friday 26 July

10:00 am – 2:00pm

 

 

NEWS Needle Exchange

16 Vialou Street,

Hamilton Central,

Hamilton 3204

Friday 26 July

10:00 am – 2:00pm

 

 

NETS Needle Exchange

19 Devon Street East,

New Plymouth Central,

New Plymouth 4310

Friday 26 July

10:00am – 2:00pm

 

 

Mai Uenuku ki te whenua Marae

319 Ohautira Road

Raglan 3297

Friday 26 July

10:00am – 2:00pm

 

 

 

RANE Needle Exchange

1478 Hinemoa Street,

Rotorua 3010

 

Monday 29 July

10:00am – 2:00pm

 

 

NEMMS Needle Exchange

21b Totara Street.

Off Phoenix Lane,

Mount Maunganui 3116

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Te Waipounamu (South Island) Region: 

Date/Time

Location

Friday 19 July

12pm-5pm 

239 Racecourse Road

Ashburton

 

Tuesday 23 July

9am-2pm 

 

NICHE Nelson

63A Collingwood Street Nelson 7040

Wednesday 24 July

11am-2pm

Rodger Wright Centre

10 Washington Way Christchurch

Tuesday 23 July – Friday 26 July

9am-4pm

 

DIVO

278D King Edward Street

South Dunedin

Thursday 25 July

1pm-4pm

Robert's Pharmacy

45 Heaton Street

Timaru 

Friday 26 July

9am – 4pm

DIVO

278D King Edward Street, South Dunedin

Wednesday 24 July 9am – 5pm

Friday 26 July

9am – 7pm

SHRP

88 Spey Street

Invercargill

 

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