Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand

About

We are a not-for-profit organisation, funded by the Ministry of Health, to provide care for people living with hepatitis B in New Zealand.

Story

The Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand has completed many major screening, vaccination and research programmes in New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Vietnam during the 30-year history.

In 1984, the newly established Hepatitis Foundation of New Zealand, implemented the Kawerau Seroprevalence Study. They tested 93% of Kawerau’s population for hepatitis B. The results showed that the hepatitis B virus was highly endemic.

Nine years later, as a result of the Foundation’s work, New Zealand was the first sovereign nation to introduce universal hepatitis B vaccination for all children.

From 1999 to 2002 the largest national hepatitis B screening programme ever conducted took place in New Zealand. A total of 177,292 New Zealanders were screened with 11,936 people with chronic hepatitis B identified.

The start of the 21st century saw the establishment of the free national long-term follow-up programme at the Foundation. The programme continues today, successfully following up and monitoring over 24,000 people with chronic hepatitis B.

In 2012 the Hepatitis C Pilot was launched in the Bay of Plenty and greater Wellington area. The pilots concluded June 2016.

In 2016 the Foundation was contracted to provide hepatitis C services in the Midlands (Waikato, BoP, Taranaki, Lakes and Tairawhiti DHBs) and Central (Wellington, Hutt and Wairarapa DHBs) regions.

As of 2017 the Foundation no longer operates a Hepatitis C Follow-up Programme as patient services are now managed by regional DHBs. However the Foundation is still there to assist hepatitis C patients with any questions or queries. You can call our helpline on 0800 33 20 10.

The Foundation continues to operate a national Hepatitis B Follow-up Programme. This programme cares for 25,000 New Zealanders living with hepatitis B.

Mission

We are a charitable trust promoting positive health outcomes to the people of New Zealand through education and research into viral hepatitis and early detection and long-term monitoring of chronic hepatitis B.