Free Hepatitis C Testing Available to Eligible Veterans on March 15
Mon, 03/12/2018 - 08:46am | By: Van Arnold
The Mississippi Community Veterans Engagement Board, in coordination with The University of Southern Mississippi Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families, will offer Hepatitis C testing to military veterans on Thursday, March 15 at select sites in South Mississippi.
Testing for local veterans will be held at the Hattiesburg Community Based Outpatient Clinic (located at Merit Health Wesley Hospital) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The testing is free for enrolled veterans. Officials will be on hand to assist any veteran not currently enrolled in the VA Health Care System.
“Hepatitis C affects millions of Americans and the only way to know if you have the virus is to be tested. Fortunately, successful treatment has been effective in nine out of ten cases and as high as 96 percent success in South Mississippi,” said Maj. Gen. (U.S. Army ret.) Jeff Hammond, director of the USM Veterans Center. “We encourage all veterans to participate and ask that local community members encourage our veterans to participate in this important event.”
Hepatitis C affects millions, but a Department of Veterans Affairs study shows that new drug regiments for the virus have resulted in remarkably high cure rates among patients in the VA's national health care system.
Veterans may receive walk-in testing at the following South Mississippi locations:
- Hattiesburg VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic: 5003 Hardy Street, Tower B, Suite 402, Hattiesburg, Miss.
- Kosciusko VA Community-Based Clinic: 405 West Adams St., Kosciusko, Miss.
- McComb VA Community-Based Clinic: 1308 Harrison Ave., McComb, Miss.
- Meridian VA Community-Based Clinic: 2103 13th St., Meridian, Miss.
- Natchez VA Community-Based Clinic: 105 Northgate Drive, Suite 2, Natchez, Miss.
- Eglin Community-Based Outpatient Clinic: 100 Veterans Way, Eglin AFB, Fla.
- Gulf Coast VA Medical Center: 400 Veterans Ave., Biloxi, Miss.
Eligible veterans may call 855.574.7296 to complete an enrollment application or visit the nearest VA medical center or clinic. Enrollment also is available online at www.vets.gov.