Further activities promoting hepatitis awareness, prevention and cure are being held throughout the region.

Bendigo Health infectious diseases clinical nurse consultant Catina Eyres said she was looking forward to the planned activities - and to the benefits for the community.

“It’s so important to raise awareness of hepatitis C, to increase the understanding of the illness itself and the treatment options.”

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by blood to blood contact, unprotected sex, alcohol, drugs and other toxins, or by auto-immune illnesses.

It has been the most common notifiable health condition in Australia for the past 10 years.

A community information and resource stall is being held in the Hargreaves Mall today from 10am to 3pm.

A Q&A forum will be staged at the Monash Medical School tomorrow with Ms Eyres and Country Awareness Network executive officer Adam Wright.

For the fourth year in a row the popular C-Jam concert is coming to the YMCA stadium in Mundy Street.

On Sunday, an array of talented local musicians will perform and also promote hepatitis awareness and prevention Hepatitis C knowledge surveys will be conducted with community members during the week.

The aim of World Hepatitis Awareness Week is to raise awareness of Hepatitis B and C in the general community, and among higher-risk groups and health-care providers.

In Australia, more than 200,000 people have chronic hepatitis C and an estimated 160,000 are living with chronic hepatitis B.