NSW HEALTH         HEPATITIS B STRATEGY 2014-2020
               NSW HEPATITIS B STRATEGY  
               2014-2020
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         NSW HEALTH      HEPATITIS B STRATEGY 2014-2020
         NSW MINISTRY OF HEALTH 
         73 Miller Street 
         NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060 
         Tel. (02) 9391 9000 
         Fax. (02) 9391 9101 
         TTY. (02) 9391 9900 
         www.health.nsw.gov.au
         This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in 
         whole or in part for study or training purposes 
         subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of 
         the source. It may not be reproduced for commercial 
         usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than 
         those indicated above requires written permission 
         from the NSW Ministry of Health.
         © NSW Ministry of Health 2014
         SHPN: (CPH) 
                140243 
         ISBN: 978-1-74187-049-7
         Further copies of this document can be 
         downloaded from the NSW Health website 
         www.health.nsw.gov.au
         2014
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                                                                                          NSW HEALTH         HEPATITIS B STRATEGY 2014-2020
               FOREWORD
                                       Despite being a vaccine                larger role in monitoring, managing and treating 
                                       preventable disease, hepatitis         hepatitis B. And, we will help people with chronic 
                                       B is a substantial public              infection to effectively manage their condition. 
                                       health problem in Australia            Underpinning these actions is a focus on effective 
                                       and internationally. It is a           coordination of services and programs to ensure 
                                       major cause of liver disease,          continuity of care for patients. 
                                       including liver cancer, and            We have set five Targets to be achieved by 2020. 
                                       drives much of the demand              These include to: achieve hepatitis B childhood 
                                       for liver transplantation.             vaccination coverage of 95%; ensure all pregnant 
               In NSW, about 77,000 people are living with                    women are screened for hepatitis B; ensure all 
               hepatitis B, many of whom are not aware that                   babies born to hepatitis B positive mothers 
               they have the infection. Hepatitis B is                        receive hepatitis B immunoglobulin within 12 
               disproportionately common among people                         hours of birth; reduce sharing of injecting 
               originating from high prevalence countries and                 equipment among people who inject drugs by 
               Aboriginal people, and this pattern of infection               25%; and increase the number of people living 
               has implications for the public health response to             with hepatitis B receiving antiviral treatment 
               hepatitis B in NSW.                                            (when clinically indicated) by 300%.  
               In recent years in NSW, we have experienced                    I am very pleased to announce the NSW  
               success in preventing locally acquired hepatitis B             Hepatitis B Strategy 2014-2020, a first for NSW. 
               infections, and our public health professionals are            The document describes how the public health 
               rightly proud of the reach and effectiveness of                system will work with general practitioners, non-
               established hepatitis B vaccination programs, in               government organisations, community organisations, 
               particular the universal infant hepatitis B                    researchers and affected communities to form a 
               vaccination program. Additionally, over many                   coordinated response to the hepatitis B epidemic 
               decades our specialist services have made an                   in NSW. Because the prevalence of hepatitis B is 
               enormous contribution to the health of individuals             highest in parts of the metropolitan Sydney local 
               and populations through the provision of high                  health districts, these jurisdictions have particular 
               quality clinical care.                                         responsibilities in implementing this Strategy. 
               Nevertheless, more work is required to reduce the              Achieving the goals and targets of this Strategy 
               impact of hepatitis B in NSW. We need to reduce                will require a commitment from key stakeholders 
               current levels of hepatitis B transmission, reduce             to working collaboratively with each other and with 
               the pool of undiagnosed infections, and do more                affected communities. I invite you to think about 
               to ensure that people with chronic hepatitis B are             how you can support the implementation of this 
               engaging with health services, so that their                   Strategy – we each have a unique role to play.
               infection can be regularly monitored and 
               effectively managed. 
               Our priorities for action are clear. We will build on 
               existing strategies to prevent the transmission of 
               hepatitis B in NSW and make it easier for people 
               at risk of hepatitis B to get tested. We will support 
               people who are newly diagnosed into a pathway                  Jillian Skinner MP 
               of care and support general practitioners and                  Minister for Health 
               other primary health care professionals to play a              Minister for Medical Research 
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             NSW HEALTH            HEPATITIS B STRATEGY 2014-2020
             STRATEGY AT A GLANCE
             GOALS
             TO REDUCE HEPATITIS B                       TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH 
             INFECTIONS IN NSW                           OUTCOMES OF PEOPLE LIVING 
                                                         WITH HEPATITIS B IN NSW
             TARGETS
             ACHIEVE           ENSURE ALL      ENSURE ALL         REDUCE SHARING   INCREASE THE 
             HEPATITIS B       PREGNANT        BABIES BORN TO     OF INJECTING     NUMBER OF 
             CHILDHOOD         WOMEN ARE       HEPATITIS B        EQUIPMENT        PEOPLE LIVING 
             VACCINATION       SCREENED FOR    POSITIVE           AMONG PEOPLE     WITH HEPATITIS B 
             COVERAGE OF       HEPATITIS B     MOTHERS RECEIVE    WHO INJECT       RECEIVING 
             95%                               HEPATITIS B        DRUGS BY 25%     ANTIVIRAL 
                                               IMMUNOGLOBULIN                      TREATMENT  
                                               WITHIN 12 HOURS                     (WHEN CLINICALLY 
                                               OF BIRTH                            INDICATED)  
                                                                                           *
                                                                                   BY 300% 
             *  Not all people living with hepatitis B require antiviral treatment;  
              it is estimated that 8-25% of cases require antiviral treatment.
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