The AIDS Committee of North Bay and Area is hosting an awareness event on Thursday to mark World Hepatitis Day.
Free and confidential point-of-care testing for hepatitis C will be offered at the committee’s McIntyre Street West location, in North Bay, from 10 am to 3 pm.
There will also be speeches from people with lived experience, information on viral hepatitis, food, games and giveaways.
World Hepatitis Day is held each year on July 28 to raise global awareness of hepatitis and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
This year’s theme is ‘Hep Can’t Wait’.
“With a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness, we can’t wait to act on viral hepatitis,” states a release.
Officials say the theme highlights the need to accelerate the fight against viral hepatitis and the importance of testing and treatment.