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New guide for the Treatment of Hepatitis B for Health Professionals

The booklet - Management of Hep B a guide for Health Professionals was developed from combining over 10 resources making a useful and comprehensive guide for Health Professionals.Treatment information on Hepatitis B has changed over the past few years so it was a good time to refresh and come up with the most up-to-date guidelines.The guide is now available on our website here for downloading. It includes: Information on who we are, what our aims are, and how we will achieve them.Hepa...

World Hepatitis Testing Week

Hepatitis Testing Week begins on 18 November 2024 - Let’s Test It and Treat It This Hepatitis Testing Week!Testing for hepatitis B and C is a simple, quick step that can lead to early treatment and reduce the risk of liver cancer. Don’t wait—getting tested could save your life. Take control of your liver health today.Call the Liver helpline 0800 33 20 10 to find out more, or visit our website....

Hepatitis B on the Agenda at the Beehive

Today our CE, Sarah Davey Board Chair William Rainger and Board Member Edward Gane met with Hon. Casey Costello, Associate Minister of Health. The discussions covered how we work together with Government, and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora to elevate hepatitis B in the health system's priorities, advocate for people with Hepatitis B and accelerate progress towards the WHO Elimination goals....

New Governance Team Members

We're thrilled to announce the addition of two talented individuals to the Hepatitis Foundation Governance Team: Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell and Dougal Crisp. Our new board member Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell is a descendant of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāi Tahu, and Ngāti Apa. He brings a wealth of experience to the board through his work at Haemata Limited, a Māori language and education consultancy business. Te Aorangi is also a passionate advocate for governance and is the youngest C...

What’s it like to be: Living with hepatitis

Published 30 July 2024: The Listener Online. I was about 35 when I found out I had hepatitis. My oldest daughter and I were living in Rotorua, and we went past this caravan that just happened to be doing hepatitis tests. She said, “Let’s go and have a try.” I got some results a couple of weeks later, telling me that I had hepatitis B.Looking back, there were a few clues that I might have had it when I was younger. I think I had a bout when I was a kid - I remember it made me go yellow...

Down with Hepatitis

On Sunday, World Hepatitis Day, our CE Sarah Davey had the pleasure of attending the premiere of 'Down with Hepatitis,' an inspirational documentary about the efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis in Niue.This tiny but mighty nation, enabled by the drive and passion of Hazel Heal, Ed Gane, Margaret Fraser, Alice Lee, and many others, shows the world how elimination is possible, not just a dream.Half the hepatitis in the world is in the Pacific region. Someone dies needlessly every minute or so. N...

Hepatitis Foundation Steps Up Awareness Efforts in Rural Communities for World Hepatitis Day

In the lead-up to World Hepatitis Day on July 28, The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand (HFNZ) is intensifying its outreach efforts to raise awareness about hepatitis B, particularly in rural areas. This year, HFNZ community nurses will be visiting rural general practices (GP) clinics throughout New Zealand to provide education and awareness about hepatitis B.“Rural communities can be harder to reach with health information,” says Sarah Davey, CE of The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand....

Hepatitis C - East Test - Easy Cure

A renewed nationwide push is underway to get at-risk people tested for hepatitis C, because it has never been easier to be tested, treated and cured.More than 100 New Zealanders die every year from hepatitis C, all of whom could have been saved by earlier diagnosis and treatment.   Health New Zealand is working with a range of local providers to set up pop-up testing clinics across the motu to coincide with the week leading up to World Hepatitis Day (Sunday 28 July).“These innov...

Fatty Liver Diet

What is fatty liver?A fatty liver is a risky health condition that develops when your liver stores too much fat.Foods to eatA healthy diet can help manage fatty liver disease along with exercise. Here are some recommended foods you should eat:Leafy Greens - A 2021 study found that eating spinach lowered the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Legumes - Include lentils, chickpeas, soybeans, and peas into your daily dietFatty Fish - Omega-3s present in fatty fish may benefit those wi...

Global hepatitis report 2024

The number of people dying from viral hepatitis is increasing, according to WHO’s 2024 Global Hepatitis Report (9 April).The disease is the second leading infectious cause of death globally, with 1.3 million deaths per year in 2022, the same as tuberculosis, up from 1.1 million deaths in 2019. Of these, 83 per cent were caused by hepatitis B and 17 per cent by hepatitis C. It equates to 3500 deaths every day.The reports paints “a troubling picture”, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Gheb...

International Nurses Day

On May 12th, we celebrate International Nurses Day, and at The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand, we're especially grateful for our amazing community nurses!They are the backbone of our support system, providing vital care and education to those living with chronic hepatitis B. From in-home visits to clinic coordination, their dedication ensures our patients receive the best possible care.We can't thank them enough for their hard work, and compassion, and for being a friendly face for many....

Strategic Team Hui 2024

What a fantastic couple of days at our recent Strategic Team Get together in stunning Whakatāne & Ohope! This was not just a meeting; it was about making real strides to improve the lives of individuals and Whānau impacted by Hepatitis. Reaffirming our commitment to supporting achievement of the World Health Organisation's goals for Hepatitis Elimination by 2030, our Board Chair, William Rainger kicked off our hui by sharing key messages about our vision, purpose and strategy. We...

A Resounding Success: Recap of the Goodfellow Symposium 2024

We had a fantastic time at the Goodfellow Symposium 2024, held March 22-24 at the Due Drop Centre in Manukau. The symposium was a great opportunity to connect with primary care physicians and specialists, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships.We were able to deliver Hepatitis B education and updates, answer questions, and share our HFNZ resources. It was an informative and engaging event for everyone involved.Here are some highlights from the symposium:Over 672 delegates attended the s...

New Website Launch

We've revamped our website to make it easier to find the information you need.The new website features a streamlined design, improved navigation, and easier access to resources for patients and healthcare professionals.We encourage you to visit the new website and let us know what you think....

Successful day at Chinese New Year Festival in Tāmaki Makaurau

The 2024 Chinese New Year festival was a fantastic experience for the members of our community nursing team and the Maori Liaison Coordinator who attended. About 200 people visited our liver health stand and the feedback was very positive with over 110 entries into our hamper prize draw. We hosted the Stick it to Hep C team on our stand as well. The team distributed blood test forms, conducted point-of-care testing and formed relationships with many people who would like follow-up informat...

New Chief Executive for The Hepatitis Foundation

The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand is delighted to announce the appointment of new Chief Executive, Sarah Davey. With an extensive background in healthcare and a passion for making a difference in the lives of those affected by hepatitis, Sarah brings a wealth of experience and expertise to lead the foundation into the future.As the leading national non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of people living with hepatitis in New Zealand, The Hepatitis Foundation plays a cruci...

Running for Hepatitis

On Sunday Josie and Natalie ran the Auckland Marathon in the foundation's name to raise funds for awareness of Hepatitis B. Their goal is $3000. Josie says "I’ve decided to focus on something I can try and make change with and raise money for the Hepatitis B Foundation, a cause very close to my heart after a difficult month. Natalie and I are running over the Harbour Bridge in Auckland on Sunday, an 11km traverse as part of the Auckland Marathon”Josie has had a close family member recently p...

Do you value your life?

Celina Teao does not have hepatitis B but she knows first-hand the importance of being tested and vaccinated, particularly for Pacific Islanders. As a grandmother of seven boys, she says she has watched and been actively involved in ensuring their required vaccinations are on target.“This is so important to our Pacific Island people, as we are prone to diseases such as hepatitis B. Although there is no known cure, early detection, treatment and protection of these diseases are far greater than...

Hepatitis B and COVID

Many people with hepatitis B have questions about how COVID-19 can affect them. The below FAQs contain useful information about risk, treatment and vaccinations. Please contact us if you have further questions.Hepatitis B and COVID-19Do I have a higher risk of catching COVID if I have hepatitis B?No. There is no evidence that people with hepatitis B are at higher risk of catching COVID-19. Please follow official health advice on keeping safe and stopping the spread ...

Healthy Exercise

Regular exercise has plenty of health benefits, no matter what age, size or shape you are. For people who have or who are at risk of liver disease, it’s an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  Here are five reasons why exercise is good for you. It keeps your weight down Physical activity helps you maintain weight loss and avoid gaining too much. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. If you’re...

Recognising our nurses' hard work

Today we’re joining the International Council of Nurses in celebrating nurses everywhere. Especially our wonderful community hepatitis nurses, Lynnaire, Helen, Jillian, Becky, Emily, Nicola, Lee, Christine and Selena(not pictured), who work tirelessly to support New Zealanders with liver conditions, and they do a fabulous job ensuring people get the help and advice they need.Thanks, we really appreciate everything you do.#IND2023 #VOICETOLEAD...

Hepatitis Hunter - Saves the Day

About 38 years ago Richard* went to hospital with a rugby injury. While there he had several tests and discovered he had hepatitis B, contracted from his mother during her pregnancy. His siblings also all tested positive. They had all had the virus since birth.With no symptoms, Richard was not in a hurry to seek advice.Enter Helen Purcell, one of our community nurses. She met with the whole family to discuss the next steps but Richard didn't attend this meeting: he didn't think he...

New edition to the Community Nursing team Christine Barea

Christine Barea was born in Matamata. She has been a registered nurse for 33 years and has had the opportunity to travel and work in various countries, including the USA.Christine has experience working in different areas of nursing, such as ICU, Cardiology, Surgical and Endocrinology, and for the last 10 years, she worked as a District Nurse in Cambridge where she enjoyed her role in the community.She is not afraid of change and finds it stimulating. Christine looks forward to working for the H...

Life just got easier for a Whakatane High School student beginning Health Science next year

Mia Shepherd has won a Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand scholarship, which will contribute $10,000 towards her study over three years. The foundation will also provide a mentor to support Mia during her studies.Mia has been accepted into The University of Otago’s 2023 Bachelor of Science, Health Science first-year programme.  “I am very passionate about Science and love to be around and help others where I can. Therefore, I am really keen to have a career in either Medicine or Pharma...

Hepatitis Foundation wrap up for 2022

This year has been another busy one for us, with our clinical team reviewing 1016 patient cases and 2998 calls coming through our helpline. There have also been 683 people with hepatitis B referred to us, 32,791 patient emails and letters sent, and 23,177 blood test forms provided to patients. Our nursing team has done 326 fibroscans.Over the past year we have focused on encouraging patients to receive blood test forms and results by email, saving money on postage and making the process more sec...