Up to 50,000 people in Ireland are estimated to be infected with hepatitis C, however many of these have not been diagnosed and therefore remain untreated, a new campaign has warned.

The ‘Treat It, Beat It' campaign aims to raise awareness of this condition. It is also highlighting the need for the HSE's National Hepatitis C Strategy to be provided with more resources as a matter of urgency.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver. The main way it is spread is through contaminated blood, such as via a blood transfusion or by sharing needles with an infected person. It can also be spread via unprotected sex and can be passed from a mother to her baby.

"Hepatitis C is an infectious disease, often with no symptoms, and can lead to severe liver conditions. Of those who develop chronic hepatitis C, an estimated 30% will develop cirrhosis. Others will develop liver cancer, some of whom may require liver transplantation. Chronic hepatitis C is the most common reason for liver transplants in Europe and poses a significant public health burden," noted Nicola Perry of Community Response, which launched the campaign in association with Janssen.

Community Response is based in inner city Dublin and provides a comprehensive programme for primary alcohol and hepatitis C services. It aims to empower people to maintain a healthy lifestyle in relation to alcohol, drug use and hepatitis C.

The HSE's National Hepatitis C Strategy, which was published in 2012, included a plan to reduce transmission of the virus and improve the care provided to those already affected. Treatments are now available which can eliminate the virus in at least 80% of cases. However the number of people being treated in Ireland is disproportionately low.

According to Dr Shay Keating of the Drug Treatment Centre Board, to date, no funding has been made available for the implementation of the HSE strategy.

"While we are treating as many patients as possible, we are not getting as far ahead as we would like. Additional funding and a lift of the moratorium to recruit additional staff are needed in order to implement the national strategy fully. As clinicians, we have set ambitious treatment targets but we must be resourced in such a way as to make these targets achievable," he insisted.

As part of this awareness campaign, people can petition their local TDs for proper resourcing of the HSE strategy in the 2015 budget via the Community Response website.

To support the campaign, which was launched to coincide with World Hepatitis Day (July 28), click here