27 February 2024
The International Network on Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) will present two impactful sessions at the upcoming World Hepatitis Summit in Lisbon on April 9-11, 2024.
The World Hepatitis Summit 2024 theme, “Integrate, Accelerate, Eliminate,” urges the integration of hepatitis into comprehensive health systems, accelerating progress through community-led services and expanded testing and treatment access. The conference also works to empower community voices in the fight against hepatitis.
INHSU and INHSU Prisons, a special interest group dedicated to enhanced hepatitis care in custodial settings, will present two sessions to support these themes.
Organised by INHSU Prisons, “Accelerating HCV Elimination: Why are Prisons Essential?” is scheduled for 17:45-18:45 on day two, Wednesday 10th April. The session will include:
- Julia Sheehan, a member of the INHSU Prisons executive and National Women’s Criminal Justice Manager at The Hepatitis C Trust will illuminate the integration of peers in HCV prison elimination programs
- Dr Matthew Akiyama, INHSU Prisons Vice-Chair and Associate Professor of Medicine and Clinician-Investigator at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Medical Centre, New York, USA will delve into effective global models of care, contributing to the acceleration of HCV elimination
- Dr Nadine Kronfli, INHSU Prisons Vice-Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases at McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, will underscore the critical role of harm reduction as an essential element in the prison elimination package
This INHSU Prisons session aims to provide a multifaceted understanding of the challenges and opportunities concerning HCV elimination within prison settings and why it is essential to focus on this setting to reach the global elimination goals.
We will also present on the success of the “‘Storytelling for Advocacy – a mentoring program in Kenya and South Africa” program. This program aimed to amplify the voices of people with lived experience of hepatitis C and drug use, empowering them to advocate for change.
It included immersive workshops and personalised 1-2-1 mentoring sessions facilitated by local storytelling experts in each country. Participants emerge equipped with not only the tools to craft their narratives but also with enhanced skills in networking and public speaking.
By elevating the voices of those directly impacted by hepatitis, we aim to challenge stigma, influence policy, and foster a future where equitable access to healthcare is a reality for all.
