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(July 27, 2018, Victoria, BC) The timing was auspicious. Tomorrow is World Hepatitis Day and today HepCBC is delighted to announce a new mandate which more broadly supports the World Hepatitis Alliance’s target of eliminating all forms of viral hepatitis from the world by 2030.
NEW PURPOSES: HepCBC Hepatitis C Education and Prevention Society has officially changed its registered Purposes to include all forms of viral hepatitis as follows:
- To provide education and support to people living with or recovering from viral hepatitis, and their families;
- To inform the public about actions they can take to eliminate viral hepatitis and its stigma;
- To monitor policies promoting elimination of viral hepatitis; and
- To provide a safe and collective forum for people with living experience of viral hepatitis to express their voices and share their experiences with the twin goals of advancing education about viral hepatitis and of promoting measures that will help de-stigmatize or eliminate it.
NEW ACTIVITIES: HepCBC started over 20 years ago as a hepatitis C patient-founded and patient-led organization, but has been working with hepatitis B off and on for many years, from helping to found the national ‘umbrella’ organization Action Hepatitis Canada, to developing a hepatitis B brochure, and doing outreach work about both hepatitis B and C to various immigrant communities. Future plans include developing the hepatitis B section on the HepCBC website, translation of HepCBC’s current hepatitis B and C materials into various languages, and supporting viral hepatitis health initiatives and needs identified by immigrant advocacy groups.
NEW MEMBERSHIP and BOARD OPPORTUNITIES: HepCBC encourages patients (current and former), family members, medical professionals, and other interested members of the public to join HepCBC. When we work and speak together, we can amplify the voices of hepatitis B and C patients – and their families – through collective advocacy, education, support, and action. HepCBC welcomes members of both the hepatitis B and hepatitis C communities to become members of HepCBC, and to consider joining its Board. Note that HepCBC’s Bylaws require that 30% of its Board must have lived experience of viral hepatitis. If you know of someone who has been affected by hepatitis B or C and would be an asset to the HepCBC Board (living anywhere in BC – meetings are held remotely), please inform them of this opportunity. HepCBC’s next Annual General Meeting is September 15, 2018 (in person in Victoria or online). Voters at this meeting must apply for Membership in the society by August 15, 2018. Candidates for the Board should send notice of intent and CV as soon as possible. Consult www.hepcbc.bchep.org/membership/ for details.
The new Purposes were ratified at HepCBC’s September, 2017 AGM, but as HepCBC is a registered charity, it has taken until now to get Canada Revenue Agency clearance to file the changes to its purposes with the BC Registrar of Companies.