About
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are both viruses that damage the liver, and can cause debilitating symptoms, liver disease and early death. Hepatitis B and C often go unrecognized, undiagnosed and untreated for years in those infected. Hepatitis B and C are poorly understood with inadequately funded research, poorly supported prevention initiatives and limited access to treatment, care and support. Furthermore, stigma associated with hepatitis compounds poor health outcomes.
In Canada, both provincial and federal strategies for coordinating the research and prevention of hepatitis B and C and the care, treatment and support of people at risk of or living with hepatitis B and C have been too narrow in scope, inconsistently adopted and inadequately funded. Only recently has there been a renewed energy in different parts of Canada to refocus the response to hepatitis B and C.
The Canadian Coalition of Organizations Responding to Hepatitis B and C unites organizations and individuals to focus increased attention on the response to hepatitis B and C–diseases that negatively affect the quality of life of up to 600,000 Canadians and their families, friends, caregivers and communities.