The sun is shining bright and the face painting is glistening on St. George’s Square as Guelphites attend free testing for World Hepatitis Day today.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health’s event is in collaboration with HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health (ARCH) and Sanguen Health Centre to provide testing and education for the virus as its prevalence in Canada increases.
WDG Public Health’s s van is offering on the spot private testing for Hepatitis C while ARCH is providing on the spot private testing for HIV/AIDS from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
According to CATIE, a Canadian source for HIV and Hepatitis C information, approximately one out of 100 Canadians have had Hepatitis C in their life and the majority of them are unaware that they even have it.
Organization representatives present at St George’s Square are in shirts that read “support not stigma,” to directly address and eliminate any negative connotation associated with testing.
The event has free pizza, hair braiding, face painting, trivia, games, sidewalk art and free information on the subject.
“Usually people look forward to this event each year,” said youth outreach coordinator for ARCH Cory Gillies.
“So this is our time to come out to the community and raise awareness.”
Gillies said coming to the community can be significantly beneficial because it reduces barriers residents sometimes face,
“Sometimes people don't have the means to get to us. And now this is a way for a few different community organizations to collaborate and bring awareness to the general population,” said Gillies.
Gillies says it also encourages people to get tested when they see others doing it.
