Hepatitis B incidence is increasing in the Northern Territory (NT). Nonetheless, health experts have said that this is a hopeful sign. Dr Anngie Everitt at her hepatitis clinic in Darwin. She counteracts this perception by stating that the rise in cases is due to improved diagnostic practices and increased community awareness. In the NT, mother to child during childbirth is the primary mode of transmission for this infection. This underscores the urgent need for prevention efforts that focus on preventing new infections.
Over the past few years, the HEP B PAST program has been an essential lifeline. It further engages extensively with Aboriginal health organisations and Aboriginal traditional owners across the vast geographical region. Jane Davies was a trailblazer for this program, which has more recently received official recognition as a valuable component of Australia’s national hepatitis B strategy. Its mission is to ensure equitable diagnosis and treatment for all Indigenous peoples.
Effective Community Engagement
George Gurruwiwi, an elder from Galiwin’ku. He has been a major voice in leading community involvement in hepatitis prevention programs and the need for community participation. His experience drives home the importance of targeted prevention efforts, which have made remarkable progress in his home state of North Dakota.
“I mentor through a cultural perspective, through kinship,” – George Gurruwiwi
Using culturally appropriate methods, the HEP B PAST program provides education about chronic hepatitis B to teach people about the disease. IndigiConnect uses an app to translate program content into various Indigenous languages. This multi-pronged approach is key to breaking down barriers and confusion to making sense of healthcare directives. This program allows community members to better understand important information about their health.
“The difference is people understand.” – George Gurruwiwi
Gurruwiwi recalls a lot of deaths related to chronic hepatitis B seen there. Through his art, he inspires generations to prevent these avoidable deaths through awareness and compassion, creating a healthier, safer community altogether.
Acknowledging Progress
The Northern Territory has recorded the most significant decrease in Hepatitis B mortality rates of any Australian state or territory since 2011. Health officials are proud to say that of the residents that have been diagnosed with hepatitis B, 99% have gotten care. That’s an accomplishment well above the national goal of 80%. This achievement signals a shift in how the community addresses this serious health concern.
“That means that we have 99 per cent of people diagnosed … and the national target is 80 per cent.” – Professor Jane Davies
The HEP B PAST program provides valuable services, such as blood tests and healthcare consultations, all in one day. This is where the accessibility of new media comes in.
Looking back at their difficulties in hitting respective diagnostic and treatment targets, Professor Davies discusses how much progress they’ve made.
“Ten years ago we definitely were not meeting national strategy targets for people being diagnosed, for them being engaged in care and for them being on treatment … but very recently we’re able to say we’re achieving the national strategy targets.” – Professor Jane Davies
Understanding the Impact
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. The NT is home to the most aggressive strain of hepatitis B in the world known as C4. This strain has only affected Aboriginal people. This unprecedented strain requires specific health responses that are sensitive to the unique cultural and linguistic make-up of the communities that make the Bay Area vibrant.
The possible mental health repercussions for people getting a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B was the focus of professor Davies’ remarks.
“You can imagine being told you have this chronic condition, that you could get liver cancer, that you need care every six months — that can be really scary, and that can be even scarier if it’s not in your first language.” – Professor Jane Davies
The HEP B PAST program is making a concerted effort to address these complicated barriers. It equally committedly works to provide whole-person care. Indigenous-led public health initiatives have a strong focus on working alongside Indigenous communities. They tailor services around individual needs, with the goal of effecting permanent change.
