23 November 2023
The International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) has been awarded gold in the Innovation Category at the inaugural Gilead Community Awards. The award recognises the project, ‘Connecting with Care’, an interactive toolkit which highlights innovative models of hepatitis C care and equips service providers with practical tools to enhance healthcare delivery.
The award comes with a significant prize – an exclusive Technical Assistance Program curated by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). The program will include online self-assessments, bespoke advisory support, and peer-learning opportunities.
“As a small international organisation of just four staff, access to this kind of support is invaluable,” explains Emma Day, INHSU’s Executive Director. “It will bolster our capacity to navigate evolving sector challenges, pave the way for organisational growth, and ultimately help us to better serve the needs of people who use drugs globally through our knowledge exchange, education and advocacy initiatives.”
The Gilead Community Awards celebrate and amplify the impactful work of community-based organisations across various health sectors. Hosted by Gilead Sciences Europe Ltd., the ceremony was held in Madrid, Spain, and welcomed over a hundred grant recipients.
The judges indicated that the Innovation category was very competitive with high-quality projects from across the world that demonstrated new and effective ways of working to support communities.
INHSU’s win in the category underscores the impact of the Connecting with Care project. The project comprises a series of impactful short films showcasing diverse models of HCV care globally, accompanied by infographics and detailed how-to guides, including interventions like dried blood spot testing, peer support, and medical record auditing.
The films have amassed over 15,000 views and have been showcased at international conferences, while the how-to guides have been accessed over 12,000 times. An interactive email series offers direct access to the toolkit, enhancing its accessibility.
“We’re looking forward to starting the CAF program and leveraging the learnings to expand our reach and positively impact our 350+ international members and our communities,” conclude Emma Day. “We’re exceptionally proud of the Connecting with Care project and would like to extend our gratitude to all partners, contributors and reviewers involved in the development of the toolkit.”
