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SHARJAH, March 24 (Reuters)
In October, Egypt launched an unprecedented campaign to screen more than 50 million adults for the detection and treatment of hepatitis C as part of its commitment to eradicate the disease by 2022.
Egyptian officials have described the spread of hepatitis C as one of the country's most serious health problems, saying that eradication was a priority.
The World Bank said that Egypt, with nearly 100 million inhabitants, had the highest rate of hepatitis C virus infection in the world and that 4, 4% of the Egyptian adult population was suffering from a random survey.
The disease kills 40,000 Egyptians each year, making it the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cerebrovascular disease.
The campaign also includes free tests to detect basic noncommunicable diseases, diabetes, hypertension and obesity, which account for about 70% of deaths in Egypt.
The campaign runs until April and takes place in 3 stages, each comprising several provinces.
John Jabbour, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Egypt, described the initiative as "very big", which would bring together a considerable number of people and help change the health map of the country. 39; Egypt.
Hepatitis C is a disease caused by a virus that circulates in the blood. Acute infection with the hepatitis C virus is not usually accompanied by symptoms, but the condition of a large number of people with chronic infection develops with cirrhosis of the liver. Or liver cancer.
There is currently no vaccine against hepatitis C, but antiviral drugs can cure over 95% of people with it.
The number of people infected with the disease in the world is about 71 million people.
The most common methods of infection are dangerous injection practices, non-sterilization of medical equipment, blood transfusion and blood products without examination.
The World Bank is the main backer of the campaign and the Egyptian government is contributing part of its budget. According to a press release to the Cabinet, the World Bank has provided $ 133 million for the survey and $ 129 million for the patients.
The bank said it hoped to transfer the Egyptian experience in this area to other countries.
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