Vietnamese hepatitis B messages are featured on a 2023 calendar launched by the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service.

The new spiral wall calendar includes 12 full-colour easy-to-turn pages that introduce key hepatitis B messages and names of health services working with the Vietnamese community. It follows a suite of initiatives undertaken by the Vietnamese Hepatitis B community development project in 2022.

"We are committed to increasing awareness of hepatitis B in the community and hope that our calendar will provide useful information about hepatitis B testing and treatment," said Wa-el Sabri, Senior Community Engagement Officer at Diversity Hub of SLHD.

"We will be delighted if our calendars are on the walls of NSW Vietnamese families and helps them know more about hepatitis B and encourage them to seek hepatitis B testing and treatment on time."

 The calendar also celebrates the spirit of the Vietnamese community facing what is a serious health issue together, according to Barbara Luisi, Director of the Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub.

“Many people volunteered to be photographed for our calendar and be part of an initiative to fight the stigma of living with hepatitis B. People from all walks of life came together to take ownership of the issue. Key services with known history of working closely with the community collaborated on the project.

Download a copy of our Vietnamese calendar here.

For more information on the Vietnamese Hepatitis B Project, contact Wa-el Sabri, Senior Community Engagement Officer on 9515 1234 or email Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.

We are pleased to support the 2022 Multicultural Health Week (5-11 September). The Multicultural Health Week highlights the importance of embracing language and culture in our health services. It also provides an opportunity to raise awareness about health challenges facing our multicultural communities. This year’s Cancer Screening Saves Lives theme raises awareness of cancer screening, to increase bowel, breast, and cervical cancer screening among CALD communities.

The 2021 Census data show more than 29 per cent of all New South Wales residents were born overseas and more than 30 per cent speak a language other than English at home.

Partner with us
Get in touch with us at the Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub if you would like to organise an in-language cancer screening information session for your community. Sessions are available on bowel, breast, and cervical cancer screening, in Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, Korean, Mongolian, or Vietnamese languages.


 
A range of multilingual cancer screening resources are also available on www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/events/multicultural-health-week/2022/cancer-screening-resources-by-language.

For more information on CALD health in the District, please contact Barbara Luisi, Director, Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub at Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo. or 9515 1234.

Every year on 28th July, World Hepatitis Day is observed to raise global awareness of hepatitis and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Sydney Local Health District is reminding local communities of the importance of hepatitis B testing for early diagnosis.

“Testing for hepatitis B can’t wait. Many people in our community are still unaware they may be living with chronic hepatitis B,” said Professor Benjamin Cowie, director of the Australian WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis at the Doherty Institute.

“Without care and treatment, hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer. Still in 2022 worldwide, a person dies every 30 seconds from a hepatitis related illness. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are the key to prevent these tragic outcomes. The only way to find out whether you have hepatitis B is to get tested,” added Professor Cowie.

The Are you living with hepatitis B? Find Out. Get Tested campaign encourages people from diverse communities to get tested for hepatitis B and look after their liver health. Campaign messages are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

“We are here to help our diverse communities take care of themselves and look after their liver health,” said Barbara Luisi, Director of Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub. “Our campaign gives quick access to culturally appropriate information so people can make informed decisions and take action.”

“We encourage community members to ask their doctor about hepatitis B and book a test. Hepatitis B testing is free if you have a Medicare card. If you don’t have a Medicare Card, most NSW Health Sexual Health Clinics can offer free testing. In Australia, all conversations with your doctor remain private,” added Ms Luisi.

This HIV Testing Week (1-7 June) is urging people, including those from diverse backgrounds to resume routine HIV testing.

Early diagnoses helps people get effective treatments in time and reduce the risks of passing on HIV to others.

Data released by NSW Health shows HIV testing rates dropped in 2021 due to COVID-19 disruptions. Laboratories tests in NSW were 15% lower in 2021 than in 2019. Home testing via Dried Blood Spot (DBS) dropped by 50% in the last quarter of 2021 than in the previous quarter.

There are many options to get a HIV test. HIV testing is free if you have a Medicare card. Temporary visitors in NSW without a Medicare card may go to Sexual Health Clinics for free, easy and confidential services. For people wanting to avoid crowded places such doctor’s offices and clinics, the online DBS test remain a popular option.

DBS testing kit is available for order from hivtest.health.nsw.gov.au. For more information, download 2021 NSW Multicultural Health Communication Award-winning resource HIV – What you need to know for more information here.