End Hep C SFSan Francisco is profoundly impacted by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a chronic and deadly liver disease. Like many communicable diseases, HCV disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, specifically people who inject drugs, are homeless or marginally housed, have a history of incarceration, or are living with HIV, as well as people of color. Fortunately, there is now a highly effective treatment transforming HCV care and health outcomes. HCV can be cured in nearly all infected people in three months or less, with oral pills that have minimal side effects.
We have the tools to greatly reduce HCV-related infections, but we must now devote the time and resources necessary to treat difficult-to-reach communities and reduce the stigma surrounding this disease. To accomplish and realize this goal, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), University of California San Francisco (UCSF), community-based organizations and advocates have come together to establish the End Hep C SF Initiative. The Initiative’s mission is to support all San Franciscans living with and at risk for HCV to maximize their health and wellness, while eliminating HCV-related health inequities. "I've seen first-hand how challenging it can be to reach patients who not only are marginalized by society because of homelessness or addiction, but also are living with a disease they may not even know they have. Others yet may have been told mistakenly that they don’t qualify for treatment. That is why End Hep C SF takes a 360-degree approach to hepatitis C. This includes innovative outreach to diagnose those who are infected and may still not know it, educating both patients and healthcare providers on the very effective therapies that are now available, and reducing the stigma and misinformation around this disease." Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer, UCSF The Hellman Collaborative Change Initiative GROWTH grant enables this collaboration to provide “hot spot” testing in communities where the risk is highest, to train healthcare providers in new treatment protocols, and to create a citywide anti-stigma campaign. The CollaborationEnd Hep C SF brings together key stakeholders across the medical, local government, non-profit, and advocacy communities in a collaborative decision-making process. Partners include:
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The Problem
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