Altantic

Eight community-based groups were identified with a mandate specific to HCV-related issues. Most were at an early stage, volunteer driven and had received little or no funding or formal training.

Quebec

Three community organizations engaged in the fight against hepatitis C, all less than one year old, without staff or funding. All other organizations polled indicated that HCV was not a priority. The availability of French language HCV information was very limited.

Ontario

Northern Ontario groups were the most underdeveloped. Human resources were limited and there was a high rate of burnout for volunteers. Lack of funding was the single most important barrier. The lack of HCV-related information in the medical community was noted.

Manitoba

Two of 34 organizations reported HCV initiatives. Many devoted a small proportion of their time to HCV, generally in the context of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and/or sexually transmitted disease (STD) programming.

Saskatchewan

IDU, STDs, addictions and poverty were major areas of concern. Agencies worked with HCV as the need arose and were not aware of HCV-related resources or services.

Alberta

HCV was incorporated into regular programming and organizations felt ill equipped to provide the information and support required.

British Columbia/ Yukon

No conclusions were discernable in the “HCV Survey Response Project” that was provided to the Evaluators by Health Canada as the BC/Yukon Environmental Scan. From the national roll-up report, six types of community-based groups were identified. Most respondents were not part of a larger hepatitis C network or did not know if they were.

Northwest Territories/ Nunavut

Programs dealt with HIV/AIDS and risk behaviours, not HCV. There was a shortage of skilled staff; transient populations increased exposure to IDU and sexual activity; anonymous testing was not possible in small communities; standards of care and treatment were not consistent; lack of access to computers/Internet hampered health professionals; and there was a lack of resources appropriate for different languages, dialects, cultures, and literacy levels.