Dots to Connect: From Getting Tested to Getting Cured

Thinking about hep C, I am reminded of the familiar phrase: connecting the dots. In the context of hep C, it can be expressed as understanding what hep C is and what it does, or how will it affect me or someone I care about. Reaching even more broadly, this can also include millions of people who are at risk. Many people where I live have been tested, which is really great, but unfortunately, that has not translated into great numbers who have been treated. Clearly, there is a break in the dots, or whatever metaphor one chooses to use when talking about gaps or missing pieces that are crucial in care.

Access to hep C treatment

Our record on testing has improved, and some will be proud of that (and so am I, to a great extent). The fact is that being tested is not good enough if you are not linked to the care you need due to any number of reasons or barriers people face. Sure, there are some folks who tested positive and then decided not to treat, and I can never argue that anyone should be forced to treat. But, are some of us simply unaware that we can now be cured relatively easily? It is not something I have seen any data about that proves it is a large or small number, but I do talk to a number of people who are now coming forward to look at pursuing treatment, having been diagnosed years back. We know that not all of us have access to care in the ways that we would all want or need, and this remains a huge gap in the dot to dot picture.

Understanding hep C

None of us are born with an inherent understanding of hep C or any other health condition or disease. It is acquired knowledge and understanding that we collect over time, and if we are never exposed to or given information that is meant to inform us or someone we care about, we generally are not going to pay a lot of attention (with some exceptions, as is normal). Some of those dots, as I use the analogy of drawing a picture, can be missing in the story or narrative we are exposed to in our day to day lives. If there is no reason given or understood, most of us would go about our life with lots of gaps in terms of our hep C knowledge.

The future of hep C

With improved information available now, there is a greater chance that many of us who may be at higher risk of having hep C, are, in some measure, informed. By no means does this indicate to me that we have connected all the dots and everything is fine, not on a personal or societal level. There remains multiple gaps we need to address in creating a fuller picture we can admire and accept as robust and appropriate for all affected or at risk.