Gauravpreet Singh is a project Officer with , a non-profit, community based organisation that provides information, education and support services to South Australians affected by hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. This organisation is funded through SA Health, the Australian Government Department of Health and one-off grants from other sources.
As part of his job, Gauravpreet focuses on targeting the South East Asian community with regards to spreading awareness about Hepatitis and also to educate the community about this condition.
HepSA Logo Source: Supplied
“I am a link between Hepatitis SA and the South East Asian community so that the information about hepatitis is effectively conveyed to the community members.” -Gauravpreet Singh
To achieve this goal, Gauravpreet works on two aspects of community interaction. Firstly, he contacts and holds discussions with doctors who work the community and also the Indian and Pakistan medical association to get their support and opinions on this matter so that the message is spread in the most effective way possible. According to Gauravpreet, the response from the medical side of the community has been very welcoming.
Second part of community interaction is a direct one. Information sessions are held at Gurudwaras, temples, mosques and other community functions. These sessions are informative and interactive and people can have face-to-face discussions and also ask any questions and clear their doubts. Pamphlets and other reading material related to hepatitis is distributed among people, especially where a community session or discussion cannot be held.
Even though efforts are being made by the government and organisations such as Hepatitis SA, it is still difficult sometimes to break the barriers of taboo that exist in Indian or South East Asian societies. People have various misconceptions about this condition and are often hesitant to talk about it, especially the older generation. Gauravpreet agrees that the elderly in the community still hesitate to talk openly about it or refuse to participate in any kind of discussion due to social discrimination and stigma attached with it.
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“Some people believe that by shaking hands or being close to someone infected with Hepatitis B or C, they can contract the disease too, which is just not true.”
The younger generations, however, are more open to information and discussion on this issue.
For more information on Hepatitis, listen to this interview and read article.
In their attempt to educate all sections of ethnic communities in Australia, Hepatitis SA is also targeting newly arrived international students in colleges and university, who may not be aware of this condition and it’s causes and are at risk of contracting this disease in a new and different environment.
The information material regarding Hepatitis is available in language for Indian and Pakistani community as well. People who call the Hepatitis SA helpline can also ask for a translator if required.
South East Asia Source: Suppled
The work of Hepatitis SA or of project officers like Gauravpreet Singh is not just limited to the city. A large number of Indian community resides in regional areas of South Australian and the organisation is making every effort possible to reach out to communities in rural areas as well to spread awareness.
The Education coordinator at Hepatitis SA, Jenny Grant told SBS Punjabi that as part of their project, they are working with Gauravpreet towards community education all around South Australia.
Jenny Grant, Education Co-ordinator, HepSA Source: Supplied
“We are looking at heading to the Riverland to do an education session with the community there….we do work across the whole state and are not restricted to the Adelaide region” - Jenny Grant, Education Coordinator Hepatitis SA
The long term goal for the nation and Hepatitis SA is to get more people diagnosed who may be living with this disease and get them cured as soon as possible and to educate not just the mainstream Australian community but all ethnic communities in Australia regarding this condition which is completely preventable and curable.
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