MOBILE hepatitis C treatment and testing is coming to the Nambucca Valley in January.

Australia could be one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV), however increasing testing and treatment uptake will be essential to achieve the goal set by the World Health Organisation to eliminate hepatitis C infection as a major global public health threat by 2030.

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A rapid scale-up of new, innovative peer-based approaches for hepatitis C testing and treatment is needed, including investing in the skills and capacity of peer workforces and in developing new peer education resources for people who inject drugs.

NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) has partnered with The Kirby Institute, NSW Health and Mid North Coast Local Health District to co-lead, co-develop, and co-implement a peer-led mobile
hepatitis C testing model including peer-supported engagement, financial incentives, point-of-care HCV testing, and linkage to care to enhance treatment uptake among people who inject drugs.

“This model understands the need for rapid scale-up of new, innovative peer-based approaches including investing in the skills and capacity of the peer workforce and in developing new peer education resources, information, and support for hepatitis C to people who inject drugs,” said a NUAA spokesperson.

“Additionally, we have formed linkages and partnerships with services in primary and community settings to improve treatment pathways and coordinate care.”

The Peers On Wheels (POW) project significantly improves community access to hepatitis C resources by bringing point-of-care testing and treatment to areas where it is needed most and meeting people where they are at.

One of the major challenges for increasing hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australia is that several visits to a healthcare provider are required with multiple different tests to confirm active infection.

Requiring people to make multiple appointments to receive their results can be a significant barrier, particularly for people who inject drugs and those living in regional, rural and remote areas.

“This trial of point-of-care testing will test for hepatitis C by taking a small amount of blood from a fingertip.

“The blood sample is analysed right there in the van using our state-of-the-art machine, and results will be available in an hour.

“If the result is positive, then in most cases, treatment can be started during that same visit or within a few days.

“Being able to provide the testing and treatment all in one visit is a real game-changer for people who would normally have to navigate several visits across many service providers and be unsure on how, when and why.

“The POW project provides a service model that allows people to be tested in a community setting where they feel comfortable, utilising a peer-to-peer approach that will improve engagement and satisfaction, reduce stigma and discrimination, flow-on into treatment and improve knowledge and understanding of hepatitis C.”

The Peers On Wheels mobile testing facility will be at the Lands Council Health Centre in Bowraville on 17 January from 10am to 3pm, Bellwood Park in Nambucca Heads on 18 January from 10am to 3pm, and at Rotary Park on River St, Macksville on 19 January from 10am to 3pm.