Our shared goal of eliminating hepatitis C (HCV) was brought to life yesterday at a community testing event hosted by New Vision Keighley. The event was the result of close partnership working between New Vision, the Hepatitis C Trust, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and the ODN, with careful planning helping to ensure that people most in need were invited to attend.
On the day, 35 blood-borne virus (BBV) dry blood spot tests and 25 point-of-care hepatitis C antibody tests were carried out. Alongside New Vision clients, nine people from outside the service who may have been at risk of infection also came forward for testing.
The event was supported by Kay Taylor, a peer from Airedale, and Paul Wooley, a peer volunteer with the Hepatitis C Trust. Both worked tirelessly from start to finish, with one of the New Vision nurses stepping in to help when queues began to build.
Although no new hepatitis C antibody positives were identified on this occasion, some people who had previously tested positive were offered a further test to check whether they still had the virus.
A real highlight of the day was the commitment shown by the New Vision staff at the Keighley Hub, particularly the two hepatitis C champions, who encouraged anyone who might have been at risk to take up the offer of a free, confidential test.
Events like this show the power of partnership working and community support in helping us move closer to our goal of eliminating hepatitis C for good.