Get Involved.
Who, me? What can I do?
Get involved - become an advocate!
Advocate - a person who pleads for or in behalf of
another
Advocates are vital component in the fight against
hepatitis C.
The hepatitis C epidemic is huge problem, and the efforts
and voices of many people are needed to make strides for those whose lives
are affected by HCV.
How to Get Involved
You can begin with the simple act of writing your state
and local elected representatives. Tell them you want hepatitis C moved to
the top of their health agenda. Click Here
to learn more.
Overcome Stigma & Misconception:
Give Hepatitis C a Face and a Voice
Each and every day, we hear stories from people living
with hepatitis C about the negative stigma associated with the disease.
Stigmatization and prejudice are often based on two factors: ignorance and
impersonalization or "facelessness." While people may have heard
of HCV, many have little knowledge about the disease, or worse yet; have
incorrect notions about the disease.
Ignorance often leads to fear, which is expressed as
prejudice.
Understandably, the stigmatization associated with
hepatitis C has caused many people living with the disease to remain
silent. However, we've all heard the old adage and have certainly
experienced its truth at some point: "The squeaky wheel gets the
grease."
Becoming involved in the hepatitis C community has many
potential benefits:
- You will be contributing to the process of raising public awareness
and knowledge about hepatitis C.
- Increased public awareness and knowledge will help
contain the spread of HCV, and will decrease the stigmatization
associated with ignorance and misconceptions about the disease.
- Involvement with the community is likely to expand your own support
system while at the same time providing help for others facing similar
challenges.
- Giving a "face" to hepatitis C will help others see that
those living with HCV are people just like their friends, neighbors,
and loved ones. This is often a powerful antidote to stigmatization
and prejudice.
-
There is strength in numbers!
- While in an ideal world, facts and need should speak
for themselves, in the "real" world with many competing
interests vying for a limited number of funding dollars, it is
often those who are most vocal and who have the support of the
largest numbers of people that are heard. We need to join our voices
together so that decision makers can gain an understanding of the
problems at hand. We must also let them know the hepatitis C community
is strong, and we will not settle for insufficient resources to
meet the needs of those who require our help.
You are an important part of the hepatitis C community,
and we need your help!
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