This fifth episode gives the floor to patient advocates to discuss the issue of stigmatisation around liver disease. How and why does stigma affect people with liver disease? What are the consequences for people with liver disease facing stigma? Which actions should be prioritised to mitigate the impact of stigma?
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Rachel Halford is CEO at The Hepatitis C Trust and part of the Board of Directors of Liver Patients International. She has over 20 years’ experience of working with people at high-risk of viral hepatitis, and liver disease generally – the homeless, prisoners, substance users and migrants. The past 15 years of which have been in senior management roles within the voluntary/ NGO sector. Passionate about equality and human rights, Rachel joined The Hepatitis C Trust in 2015 as Deputy CEO, before this she was CEO of Women in Prison, a national UK campaigning organisation that provided support and advocacy for women affected by the criminal justice system. Over the last year Rachel’s work has included working with NHS England Health and Justice setting up and delivering a Prison Peer project across the London prison estate to support the implementation of a national BBV Opt Out policy jointly developed by National Offender Management, Public Health England and NHS England. Diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 1998, Rachel completed Interferon treatment in 2007 clearing the disease. |
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Marko Korenjak is the president of European Liver Patients Association (ELPA) and president of Slovenian Association for patients with viral hepatitis - Slovenija HEP. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations, a second Master’s degree in Business and Economics, and is certified as international NLP Trainer and NLP Coach. He is closely involved in the development of ELPA strategy plan, ELPA work plan and budget, ELPA fundraising activities and ELPA Symposium preparation at International Liver Congress™ organised by EASL. He works in ELPA Horizon2020 activities as project leader of dissemination and communication of the project LIVERHOPE, project MICROB-PREDICT, project GALAXY, and also in the project EIT LIVERSCREEN funded by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology – section for Health. Marko is a member of the steering committee and trainer at ELPA University was a representative of ELPA in NoHEP movement for Europe. He is a member of EASL, International Communication Association (ICA), and International NLP Trainer Association (INLPTA). |