The Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society and Ministry of Health & Prevention Launch Health Awareness Campaign About Hepatitis C Virus
The Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), have launched a hepatitis C recognition project under the slogan Ready To Be Hepatitis C Cured. The project was announced during the HCV Majlis held today March 21st, 2018, under the Patronage and presence of H.E. Dr. Hussein Abdel-Rahman Rand, MOHAP's Assistant Undersecretary for Health Centers and Clinics, and sustained by the Dubai Health Authority and Gilead Sciences.
The educational campaign aims to increase understanding amongst the general public about hepatitis C (HCV) risks and prevention along with to support people and their families through the treatment trip. Ready To Be Hepatitis C Cured campaign will certainly connect to citizens and residents of the UAE via social media systems (Facebook and twitter), educational video clips and a 24-hour WhatsApp assistance program for HCV-positive clients, directing them to reach their goals of being cured.
On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Hussein Abdel-Rahman Al Rand said, "The Ministry of Health and Prevention is dedicated to improving public health and reducing the threats of HCV. World Health Organization has actually established a 90-80-90 goal, meaning that by 2030 healthcare stakeholders need to strive to achieve that 90% of people living with HCV are detected, out of which 80% are treated, and out of which 90% are cured. This need to be possible as HCV is treatable if people are evaluated, detected and dealt with. Together with our partners on this instructional campaign, we are functioning towards the eradication of HCV in the UAE."
For several years, patients and the public have avoided discussions regarding HCV largely because of the absence of understanding regarding the disease transmission as well as preconception commonly connected with it. Dr. Maryam Al Khatri, President of the Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology Culture (EGHS), Emirates Medical Association said, "All set to Be Liver disease C cured project is a natural development of the partnership between the EGHS, MOHAP, DHA and our partners in the initiative to raise recognition about the hepatitis C and offer better illness monitoring remedies to the people and their households, with the best goal to get rid of hepatitis C in the UAE. Via the academic initiatives of this campaign the EGHS intends to raise the understanding regarding the relevance of testing and very early detection for the effective therapy of the HCV. Furthermore, our assistance program will certainly equip and assist the patients to seek the therapy and abide by it, yet additionally offer a moral support which is commonly doing not have throughout the patient journey."
An estimated 170 million individuals are contaminated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide. The MENA region has the greatest occurrence of HCV infection worldwide, impacting greater than 20 million people in Arab countries. Nonetheless, much less compared to 30% of people coping with viral hepatitis are aware of their condition, significantly raising the opportunity of infecting others and missing out on the opportunity to accessibility life-saving treatment. Due to the fact that viral hepatitis has few obvious signs and symptoms, many people are either misdiagnosed or do not step forward for testing.
Elias Mhanna, General Manager, Gilead Sciences - Middle East Region mentioned: "Gilead works with governments, community, academia and healthcare providers and advocates to enhance our capacity to address the world's biggest health challenges on all fronts. The clinical advancements that Gilead has made over the previous few years have enabled us to sustain the Ministry of Health and Avoidance and Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology culture in developing this crucial educational campaign about liver disease C that intends to boost public health in the UAE and function towards the WHO objective of elimination by 2030.
