Alumni Division Announcements

Hepatitis C ElimiNATION Awareness Tour

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The Hepatitis C ElimiNATION Awareness Tour, sponsored by ABBVIE, brings Hepatitis C testing to underserved communities.

Dr. Nolan from Street Med STL with event coordinators, phelbotomists and staff from the Missouri Department of Medicaid during the Wellston Loop outreach event.

The WashU Infectious Diseases Division’s Bridge to Health Program partnered with other state and community organizations including Street Med STL, the Missouri Department of Social Services, the Missouri Department of health and Senior Services, and Vivent Health to provide HIV and Hepatitis C testing as well as linkage to care services at three events throughout St. Louis. 

Three community partners hosted the tour: 

  • The St. Patrick Center – Missouri’s largest provider of services for individuals experiencing homelessness, hosted the ElimiNATION Awareness Tour’s first event in St. Louis. This initial event aimed to raise awareness and provide testing services, specifically targeting those without access to routine healthcare.
  • Wellston Loop Drop-In Center – a center dedicated to healing and transforming the West St. Louis community through resource sharing, harm reduction, and trauma-informed advocacy, served as the second event location. This center’s established ties to the community made it an ideal setting for engaging individuals who might not have access to healthcare services.
  • MONetwork Grassroots Harm Reduction Organization – a grassroots organization offering harm reduction supplies, including naloxone, and support to people who use drugs, hosted the final stop of the ElimiNATION Awareness Tour in St. Louis.

Overall, these outreach events provided HIV and viral hepatitis screening to 108 individuals. The WashU Infectious Diseases Division Bridge to Health Program provided on-site case management support to connect individuals with positive test results to follow-up care during the event, and the Missouri Department of Social Services provided assistance with signing uninsured individuals up for medicaid assistance.

Mary Beth Davies and co staffing the The Elimination Bus where patients are able to confidentially receive Hep C screening
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A rainstorm didn’t stop the events as lab technicians set up in St. Patrick’s center to make sure folks were able to receive their Hep C screening.
Dr. Marks and staff from the Missouri Department of Medicaid, who were onsite at the Wellston Loop to help enroll patients for Missouri Medicaid.

The ElimiNATION Awareness Tour’s successful stop in St. Louis highlighted the ongoing need for comprehensive Hepatitis C services, especially among underserved and high-risk populations. Through strategic partnerships with local organizations, state health departments, and community advocates, the tour was able to identify new cases, connect individuals to follow-up care, and provide valuable public health resources. These efforts are crucial to eliminating Hepatitis C and ensuring those affected have pathways to care.