Your reference for hepatitis C in Quebec

The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Quebec's HIV/AIDS Portal.

The goal of this alliance is to offer a variety of training courses, workshops and events aimed at expand and update community workers' knowledge of HCV, HIV and STBBIs, of health professionals, prison staff and key HCV populations.

This alliance is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, enabling us to offer these activities free of charge to all participants.

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The DÉSIRS project focuses on 5 key objectives :

Objective 1

Between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2027, the DÉSIRS project will organize at least 50 face-to-face and/or online training activities and an online symposium across Quebec for 1,060 front-line service providers and community organizations working or likely to work with key populations. At the end of their training, 40% of participants will report an increase in their ability to provide stigma-free and culturally-safe STI prevention, testing and care services, while 35% will report a change in policy or practice within their STI prevention, testing and care services to make them stigma-free and culturally-safe.

To consult the Portail's HIV training offer click here - and you can also download the complete catalog of all DÉSIRS training courses in pdf format.

Objective 2

The DÉSIRS project will run from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2027. It will organize at least 30 in-person and online training sessions across Quebec. These sessions will target 240 practitioners who work with people in prison or recently released. The project aims to achieve significant results. Thirty-five percent of participants report an improved ability to provide stigma-free and culturally safe STI services. In addition, twenty percent of participants report changes in their organizational policies or practices to increase service inclusivity and cultural safety.

Objective 3

Between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2027, the DÉSIRS project will engage at least 350 people living with or who have lived with HIV and/or HCV in 60 educational activities, including dinner meetings, a symposium and a social marketing campaign. As a result of their participation, 40% of these people will increase their knowledge of the effectiveness of HIV, hepatitis C and STI prevention measures. In the medium term, their participation in the activities will lead to increased uptake of effective HIV, hepatitis C or STBI prevention measures by at least 25% of the people reached.

Objective 4

Between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2027, the DÉSIRS project will engage at least 250 incarcerated or recently released people in at least 20 educational activities. Through their participation, 30% of these people will increase their knowledge of effective HIV, hepatitis C and STI prevention measures. In the medium term, their participation in the activities will result in at least 40% of them adopting effective HIV, hepatitis C or STBI prevention practices.

Objective 5
Multilingual Hep C workshops!

Objective Provide culturally relevant education to migrants and newcomers from countries with high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The CAPAHC organise des activités led by a project manager from the community in question intended to increase knowledge of hepatitis C and prevention strategies.

Alongside our educational activities, we can also offer rapid HCV screening (results in 20 minutes). The tests are carried out by a nurse and, in the event of positive results, we refer the people concerned for complementary medical examinations via facilitated care corridors. We also offer support, particularly in the event of language barriers.

These activities are available in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese and Hindi.

Examples of organized activities: