Doha: Qatar joined the world yesterday in celebrating World Hepatitis Day.
World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) chooses hepatitis C as a theme for this year “hepatitis C can be cured: Put hepatitis C medicines within everyone’s reach”.
The Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHC), is organising a campaign to generate awareness about the disease.
The prevalence of hepatitis C in Qatar is low, around 0.8 percent of population is infected. However, the serious complications of undiagnosed cases namely liver cancer and cirrhosis makes it very important disease to be detected early and treated.
The ministry also collaborated with Qatar Red Crescent, private sector and other national and international agencies, striving to eliminate hepatitis C in Qatar by 2020. This vision is built on a sound strategy with 4 pillars; awareness raising, screening, treatment and follow-up.
In this regard, the ministry in collaboration with HMC and PHCC implemented awareness campaigns. Moreover, screening tests for Hepatitis C were implemented in PHCC health centres.
The new medicines to treat hepatitis C known as direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents are available now in Qatar and can cure the disease in up to more than 90 percent of cases. These medicines are taken orally and in a shorter duration than the old medicines and with very few side effects.
According to WHO, viral Hepatitis is the seventh-leading cause of death globally. It is responsible for an estimated 1.4 million deaths per year from acute infection and hepatitis-related liver cancer and cirrhosis. Nearly half of this mortality is attributed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV).
In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region viral hepatitis B and C caused more deaths (about 90,000) than each of HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
According to WHO, Viral hepatitis affects 400 million people globally and, given the size of the epidemic, anyone and everyone can be at risk. An estimated 95 percent of people with hepatitis are unaware of their infection. Hepatitis C tests are now available in Qatar which will increase access to hepatitis testing and scaling up hepatitis treatment and care.
WHO called on policymakers, health workers and the public to “Know hepatitis - Act now”. It is worth noting that In May 2016, at the World Health Assembly, 194 governments adopted the first Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis.
The Peninsula
Doha: Qatar joined the world yesterday in celebrating World Hepatitis Day.
World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) chooses hepatitis C as a theme for this year “hepatitis C can be cured: Put hepatitis C medicines within everyone’s reach”.
The Ministry of Public Health, in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHC), is organising a campaign to generate awareness about the disease.
The prevalence of hepatitis C in Qatar is low, around 0.8 percent of population is infected. However, the serious complications of undiagnosed cases namely liver cancer and cirrhosis makes it very important disease to be detected early and treated.
The ministry also collaborated with Qatar Red Crescent, private sector and other national and international agencies, striving to eliminate hepatitis C in Qatar by 2020. This vision is built on a sound strategy with 4 pillars; awareness raising, screening, treatment and follow-up.
In this regard, the ministry in collaboration with HMC and PHCC implemented awareness campaigns. Moreover, screening tests for Hepatitis C were implemented in PHCC health centres.
The new medicines to treat hepatitis C known as direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents are available now in Qatar and can cure the disease in up to more than 90 percent of cases. These medicines are taken orally and in a shorter duration than the old medicines and with very few side effects.
According to WHO, viral Hepatitis is the seventh-leading cause of death globally. It is responsible for an estimated 1.4 million deaths per year from acute infection and hepatitis-related liver cancer and cirrhosis. Nearly half of this mortality is attributed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV).
In the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region viral hepatitis B and C caused more deaths (about 90,000) than each of HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
According to WHO, Viral hepatitis affects 400 million people globally and, given the size of the epidemic, anyone and everyone can be at risk. An estimated 95 percent of people with hepatitis are unaware of their infection. Hepatitis C tests are now available in Qatar which will increase access to hepatitis testing and scaling up hepatitis treatment and care.
WHO called on policymakers, health workers and the public to “Know hepatitis - Act now”. It is worth noting that In May 2016, at the World Health Assembly, 194 governments adopted the first Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis.
The Peninsula
