Marshall Health Network partners with ElimiNATION Awareness Tour to offer free hepatitis C screenings

Marshall Health Network (MHN) is teaming up with the ElimiNATION Awareness Tour during its upcoming stop in Huntington to help connect individuals who may face barriers to healthcare with hepatitis C testing, treatment and ongoing care.

The tour will make two Huntington stops Sept. 9 at The Hub and Sept. 10 at the Huntington City Mission. Both events are free, and no appointments are needed. Testing will be done using state-of-the-art technology which requires only a fingerstick.

Local healthcare providers will be on site for both events providing resources to help individuals overcome barriers to accessing healthcare and connecting those who test positive for hepatitis C with local treatment options. Valley Health Systems will be at The Hub for the Sept. 9 event. Marshall Health Network will be at the Huntington City Mission for the Sept. 10 event, providing health screenings, social work support, and Medicaid enrollment assistance, among other resources.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver and can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Because people can live with hepatitis C for years without symptoms, testing is an important first step in identifying the infection and connecting individuals with treatment.

Today, hepatitis C can be successfully treated and cured in most people with antiviral medication. The Elimination Awareness Tour seeks to reduce barriers to testing and treatment by bringing services directly into communities and creating pathways that help individuals move from diagnosis to care.

“Hepatitis C is curable, but the first step is knowing you have it,” said Tejas Joshi, M.D., hepatologist and current gastroenterology fellow with Marshall Gastroenterology & Hepatology. “By bringing testing directly into the community and connecting people with treatment and other resources, we can remove some of the barriers that keep individuals from getting the care they need.”

Huntington Elimination Awareness Tour stops: 

Wednesday, Sept. 9 
The Hub 

96 Third Avenue West 

Huntington, West Virginia 
5 to 8 p.m. 

Thursday, Sept. 10 
Huntington City Mission 
624 10th Street 
Huntington, West Virginia 
3:30 to 9 p.m.