REACH_U | Euro Testing Week

REACH_U | Euro Testing Week

REACH_U | Euro Testing Week

This Spring Euro Testing Week, get to know our project REACH_U – Point-of-Care for Screening and Treatment of Hepatitis C in a Community Context.

REACH_U is a project for the micro-elimination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) addressed to people in extremely vulnerable situations exposed to its contraction and spread, namely people who use psychoactive substances, people in situations of homelessness, migrants and refugees. It started in December 2020, following the work that has been developed by the Outreach Teams.

This project aims to respond to the need to bring health care closer to the community context. Specifically, it consists of a specialized Outreach Team (nurse and peer) that meets people in their own environment (such as abandoned houses, woods, open consumption sites, etc.), promoting access to education for HCV health, testing and treatment.

This way, it is guaranteed that the whole process – testing, analysis, specialist medical appointment and availability of medication – is carried out without going to the hospital, while taking place in a container and familiar place in the community, which enhances adherence and, therefore, results in the micro-elimination of the virus.

O REACH_U conta com o financiamento do Portugal 2020, da Câmara Municipal de Lisboa e da AbbVie.

HepHiv2021 Conference | 5-7 may

HepHiv2021 Conference | 5-7 may

Next Wednesday, May 5, CRESCER will join the virtual public session organized by the “Lisbon Sem Sida” campaign within the scope of the HepHIV 2021 Conference, under the subject “HCV testing and treatment in the community – learning from harm reduction and people who use drugs “.

Based on five experiences, the public will be invited to reflect on the importance of the lessons learnt in the context of harm reduction and the involvement of peers, as well as the interventions for the diagnosis and treatment of Hepatitis C in the outreach context, in order to achieve the elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030.

Speakers:
Hugo Faria – Ares do Pinhal
Luís Mendão – GAT / IN-Mouraria
Inês Marinho – CRESCER
Sérgio Rodrigues – APDES-GIRUGaia
Elisabeth Avril – GAIA Paris

Moderation:
Alexis Goosdeel – EMCDDA
Ricardo Fuertes – CML / Lisboa Sem Sida

On Friday, May 7, as part of the same event, Cristiana Merendeiro (coordinator at CRESCER), will participate in the E-poster sessions (live Q&A), from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, with a presentation on “Models of testing and linkage to care for people who inject/use drugs”.

Sessions language: English

Free participation and mandatory registration.