In an effort to raise awareness on World Hepatitis Day, the Blood Ties Four Directions Centre is getting set to host its annual carnival and barbecue Friday.

The non-profit group is inviting the community to take in the carnival games, music and barbecued fare it will be serving up from noon to 2 p.m. at the Salvation Army parking lot on Black Street at Fourth Avenue.

On-site testing for HIV and Hepatitis C will also be available.

In a presentation to city council Monday evening, Blood Ties staffers Brontë Renwick-Shields and Sophie Topper said the event is aimed at raising awareness of Hepatitis C, which is a growing problem in Canada.

They highlighted the rising rates of Hepatitis C among the baby boomer population, many who may have been exposed to it through standard procedures like dental cleanings, medical procedures and others.

Often, symptoms don’t become evident for many years. Many don’t realize they have it, and the symptoms are more serious when they do turn up in what could otherwise be a very treatable condition, Renwick-Shields said.

She encouraged everyone to come out to Friday’s barbecue and carnival event.

“In the foreseeable future, we will have the ability to eliminate hepatitis C in Canada if we continue our awareness and testing efforts,” Patricia Bacon, the executive director of Blood Ties, said in a statement.

“On this World Hepatitis Day, our call to action is to keep the conversation going on hepatitis C and make sure everyone is well-educated and well- equipped to deal with this public health issue.”

An estimated 1,000 people in the Yukon and 250,000 Canadians are living with the virus, Blood Ties said.

It is estimated that more than 75 per cent of Canadian adults living with hepatitis C today are baby boomers.

Blood Ties recommends a one-time test for anyone born between 1945 and 1975 and for anyone with risk factors.

There are now new antiviral therapies that have high cure rates and minimal side effects that are used to treat multiple hepatitis C genotypes.

 Blood Ties is a non-profit organization with a mission to eliminate barriers and create opportunities for people to have equal access to health and wellness.