WHO urges countries to increase screening and treatment for hepatitis

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have called on countries to urgently increase the availability of hepatitis screening and treatment services in order to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Eliminate viral hepatitis as a threat to public health by 2030.

World Hepatitis Day 2018, which fell on Saturday, and focused on the theme "Test. Treat l & # 39; Hepatitis "

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO, said in a video statement:" We have a clear vision of elimination, and we have the tools to do it. But we need to accelerate progress toward our goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030. "

He declared that viral hepatitis B and C affected 325 million people around the world . Untreated, these infections lead to liver cancer and cirrhosis, which caused more than 1.3 million deaths in 2015.

Worldwide, less than 20% of people had access to screening and of Hepatitis B and C infections treatment at the end of 2016.

On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day 2018, WHO organizes several events with the Government of Mongolia, a country heavily affected by hepatitis, but also champion of the world fight.

More than 10% of the three million Mongolians live with chronic hepatitis. The country has launched its National Healthy Liver Program in 2017, with ambitious targets for 2020.

Aiming to accelerate global progress, WHO is also publishing new global guidelines on the treatment of bad cancer. Hepatitis C. The guidelines allow for major simplifications in the provision of curative therapy to the 70 million people living with chronic hepatitis C worldwide. "The elimination of hepatitis will require continued innovation, better medicines and better health services," said Dr. Gottfried Hirnschall. Director of WHO for HIV and Hepatitis.

"Our new recommendations should allow all those who have hepatitis C to have access to tests and curative treatments right now."

WHO and global partners share the experiences of countries such as Mongolia. partnerships in many other countries.

Invigorated action and investments in viral hepatitis are needed to achieve a world where transmission is interrupted and where anyone living with viral hepatitis has access to safe, affordable care and treatment and effective.

Source: GNA