Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) is relatively easy to treat, the statistics are still concerning. HCV is the most widespread blood-borne pathogen in North America, affecting around 34,000 people in Montréal alone. On a more global scale, HCV is responsible for more deaths and long-term morbidity than all 60 other notifiable diseases combined.
“The Métropole sans HépC project aims to make Montréal the first city in North America to eliminate HCV and serve as an example for other large cities around the world. There are two major setbacks to successfully treating HCV: lack of public awareness and the associated stigma. Our goal is to showcase how our approach can help prevent new infections and encourage more people to seek treatment and, ultimately, lead to fewer deaths. ”
— Dr. Julie Bruneau, clinical scientist at the CHUM’s drug addiction unit
Métropole sans HépC is an ambitious project that was co-created with affected communities and made possible by donors like you. It is an innovative strategy that aims to eliminate infectious diseases on a large scale by engaging affected communities, ensuring a more comprehensive approach to healthcare. It also seeks to change the way medical experts interact with stigmatized populations.