If you’ve injected, get tested

NHS Lanarkshire are urging people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang who think they might be at risk of Hepititis to get tested.

Their Blood Borne Virus team estimate around 2000 people in Lanarkshire could be completely unaware they are suffering from the disease.

Hepatitis is a condition found in the blood that carriers can be oblivious to as it can have no obvious symptoms, but if undetected can lead to severe liver damage including liver failure.

However, if caught early, a very high percentage of people who are carriers can be completely cured.

NHS Lanarkshire is supporting the ‘ Ever injected? Get Tested’ campaign which is targeting those deemed most at risk.

This includes people who are currently injecting drugs or have a history of injecting drugs and people who are or have injected steroids or other body image or performance enhancing drugs, including tanning products.

The campaign is also targeting those who received a blood transfusion or blood products prior to 1991, who have not already been tested for hepatitis C.

Trish Tougher, NHS Lanarkshire BBV networks manager said: “There’s a lot of stigma around hepatitis but it’s a very treatable disease. The sooner someone finds out they have the condition, the better chance we have of eradicating it completely.”

Dr John Logan, NHS Lanarkshire consultant in public health medicine, added: “We can only give the best possible care if we know someone has the virus.

“Therefore it’s vitally important people who have been at risk at any time in their life, get tested.

“It’s also really easy to get tested, just a fingerprick, and we now have access to a range of treatments that can cure nearly everyone who has the virus.”

For more information on hepatitis and to view the video, visit : www. LanarkshireHIV andHepatitis.org