Hep cats...

Comedicans front hepatitis C health campaign

Comedians Eshaan Akbar, Sukh Ojla and Ali Official are fronting a new campaign to combat hepatitis C.

The health drive is aimed at South Asian communities, where the virus is five times more prevalent than the wider UK population.

The comics filmed stand-up and chat sequence for the NHS-backed Hep C, Ki? campaign.

Ali Official said: 'As a creator from a minority background, I felt compelled to lend my voice to something that could help my community. Humour can have such a powerful way of making you see things in a different light and I’d like to think this campaign has delivered a message in a unique way that hasn’t been explored before and encourages people to get tested.'

Health experts say visits to India, Bangladesh or Pakistan put people at more risk because of medical, dental or cosmetic procedures using unsterilised equipment. That includes vaccinations or even nail scissor or razors at a hairdresser.

Ojla added: 'Before getting involved with Hep C, Ki? I didn’t know what hepatitis C was, how you get it, what the symptoms are, or how it can impact your long-term health – it was a mystery to me. I was particularly surprised to learn that half of people living with hepatitis C don’t know they have it. I would urge everyone who thinks they might be at risk to ask their GP for a test and to encourage their family to do the same.'

It's estimated that half people with hepatitis C do not know they have it, but symptoms include yellowing of the skin, tiredness and lack of appetite. If left untreated Hep C may cause scarring to the liver, cancer and even death – but it can be treated with pills which cures 95 per cent of patients.

Professor Graham Foster, clinical chair of NHS England’s hepatitis C elimination programme, said: 'Hepatitis C is a treatable virus, which is why it’s so important to share relevant information about testing and treatment... By using comedy as a vehicle to get this message out, we can provide an accessible way to talk about this very important public health issue and in turn take steps towards hepatitis C elimination, and ultimately save lives.'

For more information, visit the campaign website.