Bournemouth Reggae Weekender 2023 partners with The Hepatitis C Trust to raise awareness of the virus
Bournemouth Reggae Weekender has announced a new partnership with The Hepatitis C Trust to help festival goers understand more about the virus and offer them the chance to get tested.
This year’s festival coincides with this year’s World Hepatitis Day (28 July). To mark the occasion, staff and volunteers from the UK’s only hepatitis C charity will attend the festival and have a stall where they will be able to provide festival goers with information and testing.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that affects the liver and can cause cirrhosis and cancer. It affects an estimated 118,000 people in England and is most commonly transmitted when people share unsterilised needles – particularly needles used to inject recreational drugs. It is also possible to have been exposed to hepatitis C if you have ever shared toothbrushes, razors or had unprotected sex with someone living with hepatitis C.
In addition, before 1992 donated blood and organs were not routinely screened for hepatitis C. This means that there is a very small risk that someone who received a blood transfusion or a donated organ before 1992 could have the infection.
Festival goers that think they might have been at risk of contracting hepatitis C will be offered a hepatitis C test and referred to NHS services if their result is positive. Treatment for hepatitis C is very simple; 95% of patients can clear the virus in just 8-12 weeks.
Rachel Halford, CEO of The Hepatitis C Trust, said: “We’re delighted to have been given the opportunity to raise awareness of hepatitis C at the Bournemouth Reggae Weekender this summer.
“Often, people with hepatitis C do not have any symptoms but a quick test will help to give festival-goers peace of mind about their health. Hepatitis C is a serious virus, but treatment is extremely straightforward. We encourage anyone attending the weekend to visit our stand to learn more about hepatitis C and get tested if they think they have been at risk.”
About The Hepatitis C Trust
The Hepatitis C Trust is a charity dedicated to eliminating hepatitis C in the UK by 2030. We champion the right of every person at risk of hepatitis C in the UK to receive effective testing, treatment and care.
We achieve this by empowering people with lived experience, influencing policy and practice, and working with healthcare and treatment services to deliver support and raise awareness about hepatitis C.
About World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day takes place annually on 28 July to raise awareness about viral hepatitis.
Every year, The Hepatitis C Trust comes together with partners from around the world to talk about the impact of hepatitis in our countries and to raise awareness about the hurdles people affected by hepatitis face, and overcome, every single day.
As one of the World Health Organization’s 12 global public health days, World Hepatitis Day is a great opportunity to raise awareness and understanding about health issues and mobilise support for action, from the local community to the international stage.
