The V.I. Department of Health (DOH) – Division of Mental Health, Alcoholism and Drug Dependency Services will host hepatitis C Virus trainings in both districts. They will take place on St. Thomas, March 27 and on St. Croix, March 28, in partnership with the Northeast & Caribbean Addiction Technology Transfer Center. Behavioral and health care professionals in the territory are encouraged to register for the trainings.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/), hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is a blood-borne virus. Today, most people become infected with the virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. For some people, hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for 70 to 85 percent of people who become infected with hepatitis C, it becomes a long-term chronic infection.
Chronic hepatitis C is a serious disease than can result in long-term health problems, even death. Most infected persons might not be aware of their infection because they are not clinically ill. There is no vaccine for the virus. The best way to prevent it is by avoiding behaviors that can spread the disease, especially injecting drugs.
The Hepatitis C training goals are as follows:
- To instruct behavioral and health care professionals on:
- Hepatitis C infection
- Opportunities for promoting Hepatitis C screening and testing
- Treatment options and patient considerations
- Link Hepatitis C infected patients to healthcare
The learning objectives are as follows:
- List at least three populations at-risk for Hepatitis Infection
- Explain the difference between acute and chronic Hepatitis C infection
- Discuss at least two reasons it is important to promote Hepatitis C screening and testing
- List at least three treatment factors to consider and describe at least two new treatment options available to Hepatitis C Virus positive patients
- Provide examples of at least three strategies to link persons infected with Hepatitis C Virus to health care
Hepatitis C Virus Trainings will take place in both districts:
St. Thomas Training: from 8:30 to noon, Thursday, March 27, at the Department of Human Services Head Start Building, No. 1-3-5 Sugar Estate, 1st Avenue at bottom of 1st Street
Presenters: Deneen Robinson RN; Annette Scott, medical technologist II
Registration Contact: Kim Christopher at 774-7700, ext. 2103 or kim.christopher@doh.vi.gov
St. Croix Training: from 8:30 to noon, Friday, March 28, at Virgin Islands Department of Health – Charles Harwood Memorial Complex
Presenters: Deneen Robinson RN; Annette Scott, Medical Technologist II
Registration Contact: Kim Christopher at 774-7700, ext. 2103 or kim.christopher@doh.vi.gov
