LiverWELL

In Peter's experience working with and being involved in the lives of people who have used drugs, he has always maintained a core value of “not judging people and treating them as anyone else”, says Peter Higgs, a social researcher, university lecturer, and former president of Hepatitis Victoria. Read on or listen to his story:

http://www.hepvic.org.au/page/1294/peters-stigma-story

Dr Paul Gow is a Liver Specialist at the Austin Hospital and the Chair of Hepatitis Victoria's Liver Health Advisory Committee, a group looking at expanding the work the organisation does beyond viral hepatitis.

One in three Australians have fatty liver disease, he says, a looming health crisis for the country. Meanwhile, there are a long list of other liver-related diseases for which there is little knowledge or practical support for the general public.

"The changes we have seen in the last 20 years are miraculous... this means there is space for Hepatitis Victoria to broaden its remit and potentially offer services to people with other liver problems".

We hear about Aye Aye Khaing’s positive experiences when opening up to her family and friends about living with hepatitis B.

She mentions that educating herself and those close to her about the condition has alleviated worries around transmission and her wellbeing.

Karen Hoyt is one of our latest HEP Heroes and she is unique in being our first international recipient!

Speaking from Oklahoma in the United States where she lives, Karen talks about her diagnosis with hepatitis C and how she experienced the full gamut of conditions leading to a liver transplant.

As a result of her condition, Karen became determined to help others, challenge stigma, and remain healthy.

Her top three tips for people living with viral hepatitis: Take control of your nutrition, start physical activity and practice mindfulness.

A teacher by profession, Karen uses her skills to blog, video, and write a book about liver health and diet. She teaches yoga and is a gold medal winning athlete at the Transplant Games, holding the American record for cycling.

On 28 July, World Hepatitis Day we launched LiverWELL an Australian app to fight liver disease and hepatitis.

Our CEO Melanie Eagle spoke to JOYFM about the significance of the day and why LiverWELL could be a game changer for people living with viral hepatitis and liver disease.

Why do people with liver disease and hepatitis need an app like LiverWELL and what can it do for you?

Hepatitis Victoria CEO Melanie Eagle explains how LiverWELL can help those living with the most common forms of viral hepatitis. She also talks about the risks from viral hepatitis and why treatment and management of the condition is so important.

LiverWELL is free and available for download for both android and iphone.

In this month’s stigma story we hear from Jarrod McMaugh, a health professional who works as a pharmacist in the north of Melbourne. Jarrod is also a board member at Hepatitis Victoria.

In his day to day Jarrod is treating patients with opioid replacement therapy like methadone or suboxone. Among other disparities, hepatitis C and liver health are common concerns for this population.

“There’s no reason to treat any person different. Stigma has a huge impact on people’s health outcomes”, he says.

Steven Taylor says volunteering for Hepatitis Victoria," gives you a chance to put your money where your mouth is, to give you some responsibility, to make you feel a bit better about the world you inhabit."

As for being a HEP Hero, he says,"...when you share your story it helps you reflect on what you have been through."

Melanie Eagle, CEO of Hepatitis Victoria has recently returned from the Global Hepatitis Summit in Toronto, Canada. A few weeks before, while on a personal trip, she spent time meeting groups dealing with viral hepatitis in Georgia, a Central Asian republic.

Her trips give her a unique perspective on how the global battle against viral hepatitis is faring. In this short podcast, she reflects on what she learnt at the Toronto summit, and the circumstances that make Georgia's battle so unique.

Despite the progress that is being made in some countries,"...if the pressure is taken off, it is clear the goal of global elimination (by 2030)will slip further downstream," she says.

A healthy life means looking after your heart, taking care of your gut and loving your lungs. But your liver needs your love too!

Hepatitis Victoria’s Love Your Liver-Regional health awareness campaign is being rolled out in Shepparton and progressively in Dandenong, Frankston, and Moe over the coming months. It will then be released in Brimbank, Maribyrnong and Mildura next year.

The new slogan “Your liver needs your love, too” encourages people to think not only of their heart, lungs and intestines, but also of their hardest-working organ –and one of the only ones able to regenerate itself- the mighty liver!