The Hepatitis Outreach Society of Nova Scotia hopes to highlight the effects of the disease and break a world record at the same time.

Society members, supporters and officials, such as MP Megan Leslie, will gather near Bishops Landing on the Halifax waterfront today, which is World Hepatitis Day, for the record attempt.

In conjunction with the World Hepatitis Alliance, the participants will perform a simultaneous “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” gesture at noon.

The time symbolizes the fact one in 12 people worldwide have hepatitis.

Over the past four years more than 1,000 Nova Scotians have been diagnosed with hepatitis B and C, the society said in a news release.

Meanwhile, the province announced Friday that two new drugs will soon be available to Nova Scotians living with chronic hepatitis C.

Effective Sept. 1, Victrelis and Incivek will be added to the provincial Pharmacare program .

Using one of the drugs with the standard treatment of Peginterferon Alpha and Ribavarin makes these medications more effective. The drugs will be offered to patients who meet criteria set by hepatologists.

“Adding Victrelis and Incivek to Pharmacare is a great leap forward in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C,” Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson said Friday in a release.

“As the effects of hepatitis C can be far-reaching, access to these medications will help Nova Scotians with the disease be healthier.”

About 35 patients per year are expected to benefit from Victrelis and Incivek in Nova Scotia.

About 15 to 25 per cent of people with chronic hepatitis C will develop progressive liver disease, end-stage liver disease, liver cancer, or will require a liver transplant.

(newsroom@herald.ca)