Towards a hepatitis-free Egypt: is this achievable?

• Published in: Eastern Mediterranean health journal Vol. 24; no. 7; pp. 609 - 610
• Main Authors: Doss, Wahid, Hermez, Joumana, Atta, Hoda, Jabbour, Jean
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Egypt World Health Organization 01-07-2018
• Subjects: Analysis; Care and treatment; Control; Disease; Disease prevention; Generic drugs; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Infections; Politics; Prevention; Public health; Egypt; Washington DC; Cairo Egypt; United States > US
• ISSN: 1020-3397; 1687-1634; 1020-3397
• DOI: 10.26719/2018.24.7.609

Since 2014, when the Egyptian programme started using DAAs, around 1.8 million cases have been successfully treated, mainly using locally produced effective generic medicines. [...]despite the high prevalence of hepatitis as an old and longstanding disease in Egypt, the resultant health workforce is well trained to manage such illnesses, utilizing those skilled healthcare workers dealing with liver diseases for decades and building upon their capacities. Egypt is working towards achieving elimination, as a pioneering country, through real political leadership, and there are ongoing activities to implement the needed strategic directions to achieve global targets, such as eliminating hepatitis by 2023. [...]WHO is working closely with the Government of Egypt to support this goal.