Welcome to Hepatitis C New Zealand Peer Support Project

“a community of people with Hepatitis C trying to help other people who are affected by Hepatitis C.”

New Zealand and Hepatitis C

In New Zealand it was estimated there were 45,000 - 50,000 people with Hepatitis C in May 2008.

Most of them still unaware they have the Hepatitis C virus.

Treatment is available to a limited number of Hepatitis C patients each year 2005 2006 2007.... read more

Numbers with Hepatitis C are now growing rapidly with 1300 new infections a year

These figures suggest the Hepatitis C problem in New Zealand is not being effectively addressed and the pool of infected people grows each year.

The economic and social cost of this is huge and not addressing the problem is ensuring the future costs grow with the epidemic.

Some regions are "areas of concern". The stock take completed by all DHBs earlier this year identified specific areas of concern, including the lack of resource to staff hepatitis C clinics.

Peer based support groups like www.hcv.org.nz are particularly important for conditions such as hepatitis C, as the stigma associated with this disease means that many of those infected and affected choose to keep their condition secret. The benefits of belonging to a community of peers are that experiences can be shared in a relatively safe  and anonymous setting; hcv.org.nz  have on line forums for open discussions thus providing an antidote to isolation and uncertainty of living with Hepatitis C.

Forums link

If you would like to contribute to this community in any way email us