alright judging by the inside of the
spots it looks like it could be a
comfortable bride for a tour group or
maybe a rock star but it actually serves
as a health resource for veterans and
hepatitis C is actually one of the most
significant health concerns facing
veterans right now and that bus is
making stops nationwide to get results
and as you saw we got a look inside that
bus but now we want to learn a little
bit more about the mission
joining us now Dave Bachman the American
Legion spokesperson for take on Hep C
welcome thank you so much for joining us
we're doing well and so tell us about
this initiative veterans are much more
likely than just the general population
that's correct
just because of combat related
experiences with blood blood pathogens
that can be occurred during combat will
be is one major way that you can
contract hepatitis C and there's a
certain year right for for certain vet
it's basically a baby boomer generation
a lot of the Vietnam guys will be
notorious for getting that just because
of that war era and the age bracket and
you mentioned a lot of this can lay
dormant for 40 years so it's kind of
scary that you can go this long and not
realize that you're dealing with us
that's correct I mean we've we started
our are they take on Hep C campaign
Sturgess where we had a bunch of people
take the test the few came back positive
they didn't know but we were a veteran
so we're able to get in touch with a
service officer because he didn't know
but he fit that War era generation
criteria so thankfully were able to get
them the the direction need to get the
cure this is part of an effort to just
create more awareness because a lot of
people call Hep C the Forgotten virus
just because it is you know something
that can lay dormant for so long and it
actually is it's killing more people
than HIV every year but you can come and
get this test on the bus anyone could
come out and it's a quick thing not too
painful no it's not painful though I was
actually the first one get done in
Sturgis where we started and we're
located at 307 North Beach Street and
Daytona Beach Florida said Jason to the
Indian dealership that's there and like
you said the test is not painful it's
not a big blood draw it's just like a
finger like taking your blood sugar and
within 20 minutes you'll you'll have
your results if you tested positive or
negative
we have healthcare providers there that
are doing all of that for us and they
will lead you in the direction that you
need to to get the cure it's treatable
absolutely we were just looking at some
video of the bus why did you feel the
bus tour is the way to go with this I
mean you say it's an eye-catcher I mean
yeah you see it going down the road our
first stop in Sturgis people were coming
up and checking the bus out and going in
and it's really laid back it's really
comforting and people like to see it
that's for sure what are you hearing
from people as they come aboard the bus
and they get this testing and it's so
quick and so easy what is the reaction
you're getting from the veterans
veterans and the community actually
we've had people like in Sturgis and
other places that came up from the
community that were like thank thank you
for doing this
I was pure for hepatitis C I'm glad you
guys are doing this I know this is a big
problem and that's it's always good to
hear those stories when people come up
that work here for hepatitis C and
you're also you know people that you can
also talk to at the bus as well because
you're saying it's it's focused on
veterans but anyone can come and get
tested that's correct the health care
provider are I can't remember who are
using off top my head there they do the
test but then they'll actually get you
the information you need to give your
primary care physician and if you're a
veteran we'll get you in touch with a
service officer so we can get you into
the VA system because for the Legion one
in 20 versions enrolled in the and the
VA health care system is has tested
positive for hepatitis C and what days
are you in Daytona Beach you're there a
couple days right yeah actually we're
there for four we start testing on
Thursday from 11 to 7 that will go on
till Saturday from 11 to 7 and then
Sunday is a short day it's 11 to 3 and
then you're rolling out right yes we
will be rolling out we have three more
stops after that we'll go to the
Galveston Texas for the Lonestar rally
and then to San Diego for Veterans Day
and then we'll be back here in Florida
in Miami doing testing down there and
it's free absolutely free all the
testing just come in enjoy the AC cuz I
after seen these temperatures you may be
good to walk in and get the AC exactly
well that's right oh thanks it's 50
degrees in Indianapolis so I thin are
mind the weather well thank you so much
for joining us and good luck with your
your bus tour thank you for your service
thank you