Hepatitis association

Work of great value is carried out by the various caring organisations in the Maltese community. They respond to people's needs in a personalised way. Service users are human beings who, all too often, are facing moments of crisis and are thus vulnerable and depend on the service they are receiving in order to get back on their feet and regain their human dignity.

Most countries provide a service for hepatitis sufferers. These patients are able to seek assistance from a specific association to help them in enhancing their knowledge about their condition and in any other problem related to it. In the Maltese islands, there is no association aimed at helping those affected with hepatitis. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver caused by viruses, toxic substances or immunological abnormalities.

Nadya Falzon, a fifth year B. Pharm (Hons) student, will be setting up a hepatitis association as part of her studies. The organisation's aims are to evaluate and disseminate up-to-date information to hepatitis patients, their carers, health care professionals and anyone interested, organise meetings where people can discuss their problems, offer professional counselling to hepatitis sufferers, and promote awareness of the disease in the islands.

A poster and a leaflet promoting the association will soon be available from all leading pharmacies and clinics. The leaflet also gives information about hepatitis and also describes the association. A membership form, which can be filled up and sent in, is also available. Other sources of media, such as TV programmes, will be used to promote this organisation.

People who should join the association include hepatitis patients, their family members and close contacts, past and present workers in the health care division injecting drugs users, individuals with alcohol dependence and anyone interested. For further information please contact Nadya Falzon at falznad@lycos.com.