The Ministry of Health (MOH) confirms that it seeks - by Allah’s Leave - to achieve the global objective to eliminate or eradicate Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) through an integrated program the features prevention, detection and treatment of chronic HCV patients; as MOH has started implementing the second phase of the National Program for HCV Detection and Treatment. As well, MOH has launched an awareness campaign entitled (Give Your hand), which features several awareness materials posted on social media.
“During the past two years, MOH has provided a number of quality drugs to treat HCV, while giving priority to sophisticated cases or those transmitting infections to other. The introduction of locally produced world-class drugs has help expand the scope of treatment in an unprecedented way; thus, removing priority barriers. In addition, the Program trains both doctors and coordinators, and provides lab and radiology test, as well as the logistic services needed for its implementation.
It is noteworthy that hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes both acute and chronic infection. Acute HCV infection is usually asymptomatic. About 15–45% of infected persons spontaneously clear the virus. The remaining 55–85% of persons will develop chronic HCV infection, which may lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer in some cases. HCV can be cured using new direct-acting antiviral medicines recently made available, which have proven effective with more than 95% recovery percentage. However, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. This ambitious program is part of MOH’s efforts to maintain both health and safety of all community members, to boost health lifestyles and alleviate disease burden in line with the health system's initiatives under the 2020 National Transformation Program,