November 24, 2020, Virtual Mini Conference: Indigenous Responses to COVID-19 in the Context of Viral Hepatitis
On November 24, 2020 from 3pm to 5:30pm CST (GMT -6) we held a virtual gathering of Indigenous healthcare experts, Elders, and people with lived experience who spoke about Indigenous responses to COVID-19, especially in communities that are also affected by viral hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis impacts Indigenous peoples around the world at much higher than average rates, harming their physical, spiritual, emotional, social and economic health. This is the result of historic and ongoing colonialism, and includes significantly worse health determinants, inadequate access to immunization and treatment, and lethargy on the part of governments to work with Indigenous people to ensure culturally safe and responsive healthcare. COVID-19 has further exacerbated already strained systems. Many Indigenous communities have found innovative ways of preventing and coping with COVID-19. To highlight this issue, Indigenous people and allies gathered online to share and learn from each other the impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous communities and viral hepatitis prevention, treatment, care and aftercare.
This virtual mini conference featured:
- Ceremonial welcome from an Elder
- Voices of lived and living experience
- Keynote from the Project ECHO team, which also now offers COVID-19 services
- Global panel of experts to discuss how Indigenous communities around the world are coping with COVID-19 while continuing to address viral hepatitis
- Cultural interludes
Visit our video page to watch the mini-conference.
Download the program.