India is home to 11% of the world’s population living with chronic hepatitis B.
This virus is widespread through the neighbouring countries of Asia and Western Pacific, and is classed as endemic in New Zealand.
Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand Chief Executive John Hornell said that about 100,000 New Zealanders live with chronic Hepatitis B.
“What is frightening is that there are tens of thousands of people living in this country who have not yet been diagnosed,” he said.
Hepatitis B is spread through blood-to-blood contact and bodily fluids. Most adults with chronic Hepatitis B were infected at birth or in early childhood, before the vaccination was introduced.
Advice to Indians
Mr Hornell said that the Foundation encourages anyone who is of Indian ethnicity, anyone who was born in India or any New Zealand Indian over the age of 25 to get tested.
“People should also get tested if their mother or close family member has Hepatitis B; or if they live with someone who has Hepatitis B. If you are at risk, talk to your doctor, or get a free test from The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand,” he said.
Eighteen Centres help
Patients of East Tamaki Healthcare, West Auckland Healthcare & Mt Roskill Healthcare can visit any of its 18 clinics across greater Auckland to talk to a nurse or get a lab form and be screened.
Chronic Hepatitis B is the main cause of liver cancer in New Zealand; however, in most cases, liver cancer is preventable if detected early.
“Regular blood testing enables early detection of complications, such as liver inflammation and cancer. If any anomalies are identified, we can act before it is too late,” Mr Hornell said.
The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand is the national provider for long-term follow-up of people living with chronic Hepatitis B. About 14,000 New Zealanders enrolled in the programme receive regular blood tests, education, and support.
The Foundation is a charitable trust promoting positive health outcomes for people living with chronic Hepatitis.
For more information or a free test, call 0800-332010
Website: www.hepatitisfoundation.org.nz.
Patients can visit any of the clinics below:
South Auckland: Airport Oaks, 149A Kirkbride Road, Airport Oaks; Bairds Road Accident & Medical, 160 Bairds Road, Otara; Chapel Park: 160 Chapel Road, Chapel Park; Dannemora : 3 Redcastle Drive, Dannemora; Dawson Road, 124 Dawson Road, Chapel Downs, East Tamaki, 275 East Tamaki Road, East Tamaki; Mangere Town Centre, 12A Waddon Place, Mangere; Otara Shopping Mall, 7A Fairmall Place, Otara; Weymouth: 235 Browns Road, Manurewa
Central Auckland: Glen Innes: 5 Mayfair Place, Glen Innes; Otahuhu: 15-23 Station Road, Otahuhu; Sandringham: 546, Sandringham Road, Sandringham; Sylvia Park: Level 1, Shop N215, Sylvia Park, Mt Wellington
West Auckland: Lincoln Road Medical Centre, 131 Lincoln Road, Henderson; Ranui Medical Centre, 421 Swanson Road, Ranui, Waitakere; Wai Health Clinic, Corner Edsel & Catherine Streets, Henderson;
Mt Roskill: Mt Roskill Medical & Surgical Centre, 455 Richardson Rd, Mt Roskill; Mt Roskill Healthcare, Roskill Centre, 20 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill.
Website: www.ethc.co.nz
Photo Caption:
Len Brown inaugurating the Mt Roskill ETHC Centre at 20 Stoddard Road on July 19, watched by (from left) Ranjna Patel, Dr Rajeev Sood and Dr Kanti Patel
