Brown to Rotary: Health Right Curing Hepatitis C Patients

FROM: Wheeling News-Register: WHEELING (October 6, 2021) – Wheeling Health Right is getting the word out about one of its new treatment services for a condition that Executive Director Kathie Brown says was once seen as a “death sentence” for people.

Brown was the featured speaker during the Wheeling Rotary Club’s noon meeting on Tuesday at WesBanco Arena.

Brown said the free clinic, which serves uninsured and underinsured people, has cured 45 people of hepatitis C.

“The medication costs $10,000 a month,” Brown said of the drug called Mavyret. “We’re doing everything we can to get the word out.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the hepatitis C virus causes liver infections.

Meanwhile, Brown said since the clinic turned its conference room area into a site for dental care it has been raising money to add on to the building. She said to date about $300,000 has been raised for the project that will also include a drive-through pharmacy to free up space in the waiting room.

She noted the dental care program has been successful in treating people for abscesses and cleanings. They plan to expand into periodontal care for people who need deeper cleanings under the gum line. The dental program involves use of WVU School of Dentistry students and oral surgery residents.

“The oral surgery residents have pulled 75 teeth in one day – and that was on 10 patients or less,” she said.

Brown said some patients have not had dental care for 10 or 15 years because they could not afford it.

Brown said another program, “Farmacy,” that involved providing produce to patients with chronic illnesses was deemed successful in helping improve their health. She said a similar program will begin with a larger group of patients and will include some food from the Mountaineer Food Bank.

Brown has served as director of the clinic since 1992. She said people have asked her when she plans to retire, but she has no plans to do so anytime soon.

“It’s very near and dear to my heart. I’m not sure what I’d do if I retired,” Brown said.