Viral hepatitis is a total preventable condition which nevertheless affects over 330 million  people
worldwide, at a cost of over 480,000 deaths per year.

Melanie Eagle the CEO of Hepatitis Victoria will provide an overview of the organisation’s work and how it strives to contribute to the global campaign to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2020.  This work includes the current partnership with Rotary Melbourne, where presentations have been made to many clubs across the District, with more planned. 

Martin Forrest, Health Promotion Manager at Hepatitis Victoria, will share with the Club the presentation that was developed in collaboration with the RCM project team and which has been provided to numerous clubs in the 9800 District – using tools designed specifically for this partnership. 

The presentation will cover not only information about the condition but also the action Rotarians can take, such as becoming Rotary HEP Heroes.  A person with lived-experience of hepatitis will share what it has meant for them and be available to respond to questions.  Fortuitously this presentation comes in the same week as World Hepatitis Day – celebrated on 28 July each year.

Martin Forrest is the Health Promotion Programs Manager at Hepatitis Victoria.

Martin is committed to the elimination of viral hepatitis and has seen the toll that the disease has on the community. Martin has worked supporting primary health in Victoria as well as many years in the Northern Territory, particularly with Aboriginal and remote communities.

For elimination to be successful, the whole community needs to be engaged. Martin is privileged to be able to contribute to this outcome and save lives in the process.