Over the past year, momentum has been steadily building at the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA) to increase awareness and improve screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) across our northern communities.
With a growing commitment to liver wellness and culturally safe care, SLFNHA is working in close collaboration with communities to support action through innovative approaches like dried blood spot (DBS) testing.
DBS testing is a powerful tool in our work. It’s minimally invasive, easy to transport, and ideal for use in remote areas. But more importantly, it helps reduce some of the traditional barriers to testing — making it easier for people to get screened in community-based settings.
Increasing screening is just one piece of the work. The team is engaging with communities in meaningful and creative ways to raise awareness, break stigma, and support wellness. This includes meeting directly with Chief and Council to share information, gather input, and build local leadership in liver health. Awareness is being raised by connecting with youth through school-based education, collaborating closely with community nurses, and getting the word out through local radio shows and bingo nights. Offering small incentives and prizes during awareness events has helped spark curiosity and encourage participation, especially in settings where health messaging has historically felt disconnected.
These collective efforts are helping to shift the conversation around HCV. SLFNHA is proud to be leading this growing movement for liver wellness in close collaboration with the communities that they serve, and are looking forward to continuing this important work together.
Add comment
Comments