Norwich Evening News Sarah Hall 04 August 2007
Health campaigners have called on the government to tackle the growing number of people contracting fatal blood disease hepatitis C in the city.
Almost 2,000 people are living in Norwich with the disease but most do not know they are infected.
Norwich North MP Ian Gibson has joined forces with the Hepatitis C Trust in calling on new health minister Alan Johnson to launch a mass campaign to raise awareness of the disease and to encourage people who have been at risk of infection to get tested.
Dr Gibson said: “Up to 2,000 people in Norwich are infected with hepatitis C, but only one in 10 are aware of their status. It is vital that these people are diagnosed so they can undergo treatment before it is too late.
“There is a scandalous lack of public awareness about the disease, even amongst some doctors and nurses. Treatments are more effective if they are started during early stages of the infection so it is vital that people who have been at risk get tested.”
It is feared across the county there could be up to 10,000 people with the disease which is an infection of the liver contracted through contaminated blood or intravenous drug use.
Michael Colyer, 55, of Colman Road in Norwich, contracted hepatitis C through NHS treatment he had for haemophilia. He has long campaigned for the disease to be treated as a priority in the NHS.
“Screening is only way people are going to find out if they have the disease,” Mr Colyer said. “More money is needed to help fight the disease because 90pc of people do not know they have it.”
Health Protection Agency figures said the latest estimate on the number of adults infected with hepatitis C was about 231,000 in 2003 - most of them undiagnosed. Most sufferers are aged between 15 and 59 and men are more likely to be infected with the disease. The Hepatitis C Trust works to support and inform people affected by the disease as well as raising awareness amongst the wider population. Chief executive Charles Gore said: “I am delighted that Ian Gibson has joined our call for a hard hitting, effective campaign to raise awareness of hepatitis C. The government must tackle this urgent public health problem before it is too late.”
For more information about hepatitis C, log onto www.hepctrust.org.uk or contact Jane Allen at The Hepatitis C Trust on 0207 0896201.
