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There are an estimated 500,000 people in the UK with hepatitis C. (That’s about ten times the number of people with HIV). Out of that number, less than 1% are receiving treatment. To raise awareness for this potentially fatal disease Community Channel are broadcasting a deeply emotive documentary called Louie, Me and Hepatitis C on Tuesday 10th April @ 9:30pm (repeated on Thursday 12th April @ 9:30pm).
It follows the difficulties experienced by Hep C sufferer Gemma Peppe whilst she juggles treatment and with looking after her son Louie.
Gemma is a single parent who has suffered from Hepatitis C for 17 years. The documentary highlights the unpleasant side-effects that Gemma endures over the year of her treatment which put a strain on the close relationship she has with her 12-year-old son Louie. She is very honest and open about the fact that she finds it hard to cope with day-to-day life whilst she is undergoing treatment; grappling with constant exhaustion, flu symptoms, raging hormones and thinning hair.
Yet, despite her struggles, Gemma remains determined to live a full life and be a good mother. She even embarks on an investigation into the discrimination and prejudice against those who suffer from the disease.
She finds the refusal of politicians and many health professionals to take the illness seriously and the potential scale of the health problem as a result extremely worrying and is openly critical of current Government health policy for treatment of Hepatitis C.
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For viewing copies, images and interviews please contact 020 7874 7908 or email info@communitychannel.org
Notes to Editors
Hep C Facts
• The virus is carried in the blood and occurs when blood from an infected person enters the blood stream of a person who is not infected.
• Hep C can be passed on through sharing equipment for injecting drugs, sharing razors or toothbrushes or from an infected mother to her baby during birth.
• Many people do not experience any symptoms. When these occur, they include fatigue, pain in the liver area, digestive problems, jaundice, weight loss and alcohol intolerance.
• Hep C is treated with the combination of two drugs, interferon alpha and ribavirin. 40% of patients respond to therapy.
• Hep C principally attacks the liver. A transplant is needed if damage is severe.
Celebrities who have contracted Hep C
• Dame Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, contracted the disease after a blood transfusion while giving birth to her youngest daughter in 1971. She has recently become the patron of The Hepatitis C Trust.
• Steve Tyler, singer in Aerosmith, discovered he had contracted the virus in 1993 after an on-stage injury forced him to undergo emergency surgery.
• Pamela Anderson, star of Baywatch and Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, caught Hep C after sharing a needle with her former husband and Motley Crue rocker Tommy Lee.
Community Channel is TV that gives a damn. It makes you think again about the world around you, and inspires you to take action on the causes and issues that matter to you. Broadcasting original shows, the best of terrestrial TV and showcasing the work of new directors and community programme makers; Community Channel is the place for real-life stories. The channel is broadcast 24 hours a day, every day on Sky 539, Virgin TV 233 and from 6-9am on Freeview 87. The channel is freely available to around 45 million people in 18.2 million homes across the country and around 1.2 million people watch every month (BARB). Community Channel is a Media Trust initiative.
The Hepatitis C Trust is the only national UK charity devoted to hepatitis C. It runs services that provide support, information and representation for people with the disease. It operates a website dedicated to being the most comprehensive information resource on hepatitis C. For more information visit www.hepctrust.org.uk or call the Trust’s helpline on 0870 200 1 200 .
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