The health promotion unit of my Department has produced an information leaflet on hepatitis C and this leaflet is made widely available. I have no further plans at present to initiate a national campaign on hepatitis C, as suggested by the Deputy, but I will keep the matter under review.
An advisory group on the transmission of diseases in the health care setting produced two reports in September 1997 and February 1999 on the prevention of transmission of blood-borne disease in the health care setting. The reports deal mainly with prevention of transmission of hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV. The reports, which were widely circulated, make recommendations on the essential safety procedures for the health care setting.
A number of studies, both in the Eastern Health Board drugs services and in prison, have shown that between 70% and 80% of opiate addicts are hepatitis C positive. Data on the first ten years of the board's needle exchange programme was recently presented to the board and an expanded needle exchange programme is actively taking place through the recruitment of extra outreach workers and the opening of needle exchange locations in various sites throughout the city.
