A revolutionary new high-tech device which gives rapid results for blood-borne disease has been demonstrated for Community Planning Aberdeen (CPA) board members.
They visited an Aberdeen Alcohol and Drugs Action (ADA) base today to help highlight tomorrow’s World Hepatitis Day (July 28)
CPA board chair Cllr Christian Allard and board member Cllr Martin Greig spent the morning at the ADA centre on Hadden Street to see for themselves the vital work being carried out by the charity.
ADA is the North-east’s leading provider of alcohol and drug support services in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, with services open to individuals, family members and friends. The charity’s skilled and knowledgeable team provides advice to prevent harmful use of alcohol and drugs, and person-centred support to help those with problems to recover and live happy lives.
The CPA members saw first-hand the services available and the innovative improvements being tested in projects to reduce incidences of drug overdose, as outlined in the city’s Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP):
- increase the uptake of drug treatment
- increase opportunities for being tested for drug-related illnesses
- increase access for treatment for blood-borne viruses.
Project managers detailed the improvements being targeted and those which have been achieved to date, including reducing drug-related deaths and increasing the supply of the life-saving anti-overdose drug, Naloxone
Simon Pringle, ADA services manager, gave an overview of ADA services and explained activity to boost the uptake of drug treatment, specifically within the city’s North, South and Central Locality areas.
NHS Grampian’s Pauline Dundas outlined the growing number of opportunities for people at risk of blood-borne viruses like hepatitis to be tested and treated.
The visit included a demonstration of a mobile Cepheid machine, which can provide accurate, real-time results for hepatitis C infection. The high-tech device completes a quick finger-prick test, producing a hepatitis C result within an hour and allows for testing in community venues, giving people choice on where to come for a test.
Cllr Allard and Cllr Greig also shadowed ADA’s needle exchange team and duty drop-in staff respectively.
The Scottish Government has set a target of eradicating hepatitis C by the end of March 2025.
A key project in Aberdeen’s LOIP is to increase the uptake of testing for blood-borne viruses (BBVs), specifically hepatitis C, using new technology. Overseen by the Managed Care Network for Sexual Health and BBVs, the Aberdeen City Alcohol and Drugs Partnership-funded Cepheid machine has been used by the liver team in community settings.
Evidence so far shows this is a highly effective way of engaging people who would have otherwise not been tested or lost from the health system.
CPA chair Cllr Allard said: “What we saw and heard about today was truly inspirational and gave us a deep insight into the vital work being undertaken in the city by Alcohol and Drugs Action and Aberdeen City Alcohol and Drugs Partnership.
“It shows that Aberdeen is truly at the forefront of taking positive action to combat the harm people face by using dangerous substances and that we are fully committed to reducing risk and making people’s lives safer, for the benefit of them, their families, their friends and our communities.”