ID: HR19-572
Presenting author: Teresa Sousa
Teresa Sousa, Ximene Rego, Tiago Teixeira, Catarina Lameira
GIRUGaia works with drug users(DU) since 2003: population particularly vulnerable to HepC, HIV and TB. The team aims to achieve the ideal conditions to guarantee this group’s access to the healthcare system, since they are many times conditioned by prejudice and stereotypes, limiting their access to diagnosis, testing and treatment. The daily contact with these individuals is vital to establish a relationship of trust and proximity that usually motivates DU to be part of different therapies.
Since December (2016), GIRUGaia is implementing a specific project on HCV. Aiming at the adherence to HCV therapies by all DU who get in touch with the team and show this need, the objectives of the project are: 1)Promote the dissemination of knowledge on HCV among DU; 2)Sensitise to the importance of HCV medical treatment; 3)Expand these innovative therapies to a marginalised population; 4)Contribute to the epidemiological knowledge on HCV. Another important goal is the awareness-raising of the healthcare system professionals.
The Combined Therapy Program is the privileged way to promote the DUs’ adherence to therapy. When a DU who wishes to be part of the opioid substitution program(OSP), he/she seeks our team and we immediately schedule a medical appointment and a range of tests. All individuals tested positive are monitored by the professionals who work in GIRUGaia’s partner services. If the individual needs to be involved in an OSP or in another therapeutic, the medication will be administered on a daily basis by the team - ensuring a potentially successful adherence.
As suggested by EASL Recommendations on Treatment of HepatitisC2018, our clients – most of them in OSP, they have completed HCV treatment very successfully without any sides effects; without a specific methadone dose adjustment.
GIRUGaia lowthreshold clients are being treated for HCV with the support of an interdisciplinary HRTeam in outreach context.