Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South recently hosted an event in the Scottish Parliament in conjunction with The Hepatitis C Trust to mark the launch of their new report ‘Eliminating Hepatitis C in Scotland’
The report contains a series of recommendations setting out the next steps to move closer to the elimination of hepatitis C in Scotland. The report focuses on the importance of elimination and tackling the stigma and lack of awareness to ensure as many people as possible are tested, diagnosed and treated.
The Hepatitis C Trust will be organising a ‘Hepatitis C Action week’ in April with possible activities being awareness-raising, testing in the community, a social media campaign and a patient-focussed event.
Commenting, Tom said:
“I was pleased to have the opportunity to mark this report in the Scottish Parliament and to engage with the health professionals and current patients.
“It was particularly encouraging to hear from patients who have faced hepatitis C and are now doing what they can to raise awareness and support elimination.
“I welcome this report and indeed the excellent work of The Hepatitis C Trust, I believe that hepatitis C could be the next great public health success, following previous successes in dealing with conditions like smallpox and polio and I look forward to working with the trust to increase awareness and to eliminating hepatitis C in Scotland.”