Egypt achieves WHO target for hepatitis B control

EGYPT – Egypt has successfully met the regional target for hepatitis B control set by the World Health Organization (WHO), marking a major milestone in the country’s public health efforts.

Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar announced the achievement, which was verified by the WHO’s Regional Committee after assessing Egypt’s progress in combating hepatitis B and C, as well as preventing the mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis.

In a statement released on January 23, the Ministry of Health confirmed that WHO has officially recognized Egypt’s success in reducing hepatitis B prevalence to below 1% among children aged five and older.

This achievement follows years of sustained efforts, including high vaccination coverage.

The third dose of the hepatitis B vaccine has consistently remained at or above 90.8% for over a decade, while the birth dose coverage rate has exceeded this threshold for five consecutive years.

Minister Abdel Ghaffar highlighted that this success reflects the Egyptian government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system, with continuous support from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

He emphasized that reaching this milestone puts Egypt on the right track toward eliminating hepatitis B, aligning with the country’s long-term health goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that spreads through contact with infected blood, semen, or other body fluids. Common transmission routes include childbirth (from an infected mother to her baby), unprotected sexual contact, and sharing contaminated needles or medical equipment.

Less commonly, the virus can be passed through sharing personal items like razors or toothbrushes, direct contact with infected blood or open sores, and inadequate infection control in healthcare settings.

According to WHO, approximately 254 million people worldwide were living with chronic hepatitis B in 2022, with 1.2 million new infections recorded annually.

That same year, the disease caused an estimated 1.1 million deaths, primarily due to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Additionally, around 1% of those infected with hepatitis B (2.7 million people) are also living with HIV, while the global prevalence of hepatitis B among people with HIV stands at 7.4%.

Since 2015, WHO has recommended that all individuals diagnosed with HIV receive treatment with tenofovir, one of the key first-line HIV treatments, also proving effective against hepatitis B.

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