Ø      “A number of studies report the estimated prevalence of hepatitis C infection amongst inmates in Australia to be around 34 to 47%α, and between 50 to 70% for female inmates. This is many times higher than hepatitis C prevalence in the general community, which is estimated at approximately 1%.” Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS, Sexual Health and Hepatitis, Evidence base, July 2008.

Ø      “The response to hepatitis C in prisons needs to accept the reality of the prison experience where blood borne viruses like hepatitis C are transmitted through sharing drug injecting equipment, tattooing and body piercing, all of which are banned but continue to occur.

Ø      “With up to 1 in every 2 inmates in some States having documented evidence hepatitis C infection, transmission of the virus between prisoners engaging in these activities is a major public health concern.” Australian Hepatitis Council, Media release, 1 September 2005.

Ø      “In one study, inmates were estimated to have 156 times the risk of acquiring hepatitis C in prison, compared to those who might be considered ‘at risk’ in the community” Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS, Sexual Health and Hepatitis, Evidence base, July 2008.

Ø      There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C and treatment is protracted, costly and with unpleasant side effects (http://www.hivhepsti.info/fs/fs_hepctreat.htm).

Ø      “We know absolutely that the big problem is the sharing of intravenous equipment and it is self-evident to everybody that if we are to stop this epidemic we must stop this and we must provide clean injecting gear.” Dr Peter Sharp, Medical Practitioner, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service at AIVL forum, May 2009.

Ø      The ACT Government adheres to an unrealistic belief that the ACT prison will succeed where every other prison in the country has failed in keeping drugs out. Within two months of accepting its first detainees at the end of March 2009, drugs, a syringe and other equipment were discovered (Canberra Times, Thursday, 18 June 2009, pp. 1 & 8).

Find out more:

What is Hepatitis C and other frequently asked questions. See website of ACT Hepatitis Resource Centre at http://www.hepatitisresourcecentre.com.au/faqs.html.

Hepatitis C Subcommittee, Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS, Sexual Health and Hepatitis, Hepatitis C prevention, treatment and care: guidelines for Australian custodial settings evidence base for the guidelines ([Canberra], July 2008) >> here

Forum of Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users’ League (AIVL), Why are the rates of hepatitis C higher in Aboriginal communities: where to from here? (Canberra, Friday 22 May 2009) audio here.

Forum of ACT Hepatitis Resource Centre, Prison health is public health (Canberra, 17 June 2009) audio here >> introduction, speech, questions and discussion.