EGYPT – The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to certify Egypt for achieving the elimination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in its governorates in the second half of 2023.
The certificate, to be presented to Egypt in September, is considered the first granted to a country for eliminating the hepatitis C virus.
Egypt is on track to become the first country to fully eradicate the hepatitis C virus through targeted screening campaigns for individuals at risk and effective drug treatments for those affected.
Hence, Egypt will combine its efforts with the international community to eliminate viral Hepatitis C by the year 2030, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and WHO objectives.
Commenting on the healthcare win, the Egyptian Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, said: “Egypt has developed a comprehensive plan where all bodies involved in screening, prevention, and treatment of the illness were involved.”
The World Health Organisation will soon announce that Egypt has become the first country to eliminate the hepatitis C virus.
Although Egypt has the highest prevalence rate of the virus in the world, the country is now an inch closer to becoming the first region in the world to be fully HCV-free.
The WHO certification follows vigorously supported targeted hepatitis C interventions to stamp out the disease and prevent the re-establishment of transmission.
From the early 1990s until now, the government has put vast effort into strengthening hepatitis prevention with programmes covering blood safety, infection control, and injection safety.
Laying out his vision, Abdel-Ghaffar explained: “The Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has set up around 6,000 units to examine more than 60 million people over only seven months. This is in addition to 200 medical units to treat those who were proven positive for HCV.”
This approach is in line with WHO’s hepatitis treatment guidelines, which highlight the risks of untreated disease and advocate for testing and treatment.
Egypt’s timely accomplishments come as countries around the globe gathered on 28th July to mark World Hepatitis Day.
On his part, Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, the official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, placed the presidential initiative “100 Million Healthy Lives” at the centre of the country’s HCV elimination success.
The presidential initiative included mass screenings of all adult citizens for early detection of various diseases and viruses, including Hepatitis C, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
In his congratulatory address, Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar pointed out that the presidential initiative 100 Million Healthy Lives formed the foundation for getting rid of HCV.
Egypt has struck a longstanding partnership with the World Health Organisation in eradicating hepatitis C through the 100 Million Health initiative.
“The hepatitis screening campaign was launched under the 100 Million Healthy Lives Campaign. After the screening of 62 million Egyptians, we treated more than five million people in less than five years,” stated Dr. Abdel Ghaffar.
Additionally, the World Health Organization has been providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Population in concerted efforts to eradicate HCV.
WHO has served as an independent verification agency, visiting screening locations across the country and conducting extensive patient surveys to ensure compliance with WHO guidelines and high-quality services.
Abdel-Ghaffar further credited government localization initiatives that reflects the government’s view of pharma as a key industry, noting that locally-produced drugs were used to treat patients, achieving a treatment rate of 98%.
Abdel-Ghaffar also reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to treat one million African Hepatitis C patients and to expand efforts to eliminate viral Hepatitis C in Africa, as part of the 100 Million Health initiative’s extended goals.
“African nations will continue benefiting from Egypt’s progress in the development of the pharmaceutical industry. Per the presidential plan, Egypt has agreed to provide medical care for one million Africans,” the official spokesperson disclosed.
Egypt has affordable tools and precedence of the results. Furthermore, experts have economic modelling that shows that hepatitis C elimination demonstrates a positive return on investment in almost any country globally.
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