Marianne Faithfull sings with Dublin homeless choir

Dublin People 07 Aug 2015
Pictured at the lauch of the awareness week are (l-r): back row Susan Donlon (HIV Ireland), Todd Manning (General Manager of AbbVie in Ireland), Ruaidhri McAuliffe (UISCE), Niall Mulligan (Director of HIV Ireland); Front row Sue Carter (HIV Ireland), Nicola Perry (Manager of Community Response), M

ICONIC singer Marianne Faithfull paid a visit to the Northside recently for a practice session with a choir made up of people affected by homelessness.

The one time girlfriend of Mick Jagger was in town for a week-long Hepatitis C awareness campaign and her performance with the High Hopes Choir was just one of several events that took place over the course of a week.

Faithfull, who was part of the London swinging sixties scene, has Hepatitis C and was official ambassador for the awareness week.

“Living with any disease is always a challenge, but the stigma associated with Hepatitis C makes for an especially difficult journey for those affected,

? she said.

“That is why I wanted to get involved and share my story and experience of living with Hepatitis C – it is only through talking about it and breaking down

some of the untruths that exist about the illness that we will begin to educate people.

The singer, who had several hits in a career spanning five decades, was joined at the

‘Cure This’ national roadshow at North Earl Street by Minister of State with special responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Aodhán Ã? Ríordáin.

“I think campaign weeks like this are vital to help challenge the stigma around diseases like Hepatitis C and to raise awareness in encouraging people to get tested,

? he said.

“I would encourage anyone with concerns to take a test because early intervention is crucial in allowing people with hepatitis to receive the treatment that they need.

“It is also important that service providers have up to date information on how to treat someone who is at risk, or has, Hepatitis C, which is again why testing is so crucial.

Ireland’s first ever awareness week for Hepatitis C was backed by three community groups – Community Response, HIV Ireland and UISCE (Union for Improved Services Communication and Education).

All three groups work with those living in Ireland with the disease, primarily in the Dublin City Centre area. It’s estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 people across Ireland could have undiagnosed Hepatitis C.

The National Awareness Week also saw the launch of a new Hepatitis C Partnership (HCP).

“It’s a newly formed collaboration of interested stakeholders in the area of hepatitis C, specifically promoting

testing, advocating for equitable access to treatment and promoting

prevention messages,

? explained Nicola Perry, Manager of Community Response.

“We especially encourage partnerships of service providers, and it has been fantastic to work with regional service providers on this first ever awareness week to support them with their own awareness activities and events.

“We hope that people will use our website, www.HepInfo.ie, to get support, find services and be part of our work in this area.

Ms Perry added:

“We would like to thank both Marianne Faithfull and Minister Ã? Ríordáin for their support, which is greatly appreciated.

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