Birmingham City Council (BCC) has launched a vital new social health campaign to promote testing for Hepatitis B and C, reinforcing the city’s ongoing commitment to the Fast-Track Cities+ (FTC+) programme.
Birmingham officially joined the Fast-Track Cities initiative in October 2022, aligning with a global network of cities working towards the goal of ending new cases of Hepatitis.
While the Fast-Track Cities programme originally focused on HIV prevention and care, cities like Birmingham have broadened the scope to address other critical health challenges, such as Hepatitis and Tuberculosis, which continue to affect vulnerable populations.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of and encourage testing for Hepatitis B and C, focusing on men aged 35 to 49 within Asian and Asian British communities. This group has been identified by research as one of a number of communities at particularly high risk for contracting Hepatitis B and C.
The campaign’s central message – “Risk. Test. Protect.” – encourages individuals to visit testtoprotect.co.uk to determine their risk for Hepatitis B and C.
Despite this increased risk, many within this demographic are less likely to get tested, leading to undiagnosed conditions that can cause serious, long-term health complications, including liver damage, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. By getting tested early, individuals can get the treatment they need sooner, improve their quality of life and increase their life expectancy.
Councillor Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities at Birmingham City Council, said: “In Birmingham, we are committed to preventing new cases of Hepatitis B and C by 2030, helping to reduce health inequalities by ensuring that everyone in our city has access to the help and support they need to live healthier lives.
“The ‘Know Your Status’ campaign is about reaching out to communities identified as being at higher risk of Hepatitis B and C, and helping to reduce the stigma associated with these conditions by empowering them to find out about their health status and, crucially, get tested and get treated.”
Azim Azam, Birmingham co-ordinator at the Hepatitis C Trust, said: “Having worked closely with individuals affected by Hepatitis C for a number of years, I know how vital it is to get tested at the earliest opportunity so that you can treated as soon as possible.
“Also, as a member of the community that this campaign is aiming to reach to raise awareness, I understand how difficult it can sometimes be to take that first step to getting tested, but by having these conversations we can reduce the stigma and ensure that individuals in our community are living longer, healthier and happier lives, which will also benefit their loved ones.”
The campaign’s central message – “Risk. Test. Protect.” – encourages individuals to visit testtoprotect.co.uk to determine their risk for Hepatitis B and C. The website offers information on how to get a free, confidential test, and underscores the importance of early detection in protecting both personal health and the health of their loved ones and their wider community.
Through this campaign, Birmingham City Council hopes to raise awareness of Hepatitis and inspire individuals to take action by getting tested.
To see more of the campaign, visit testtoprotect.co.uk.
