Presidential Campaign to Detect, Treat Hepatitis C Launched

CAIRO, Sept. 30 (SEE) - Minister of Health and Population Dr Hala Zayed said on Sunday the president’s campaign to detect and treat Hepatitis C and chronic diseases will begin on Monday.

Zayed was speaking at a conference at the Cabinet headquarters here to announce launching the campaign, MENA news agency reported.

"The campaign aims at eliminating Hepatitis C from Egypt and reducing fatalities from chronic diseases," the minister added.

She reviewed the timetable of the campaign which will be implemented in three phases each covering a number of governorates. The first stage will include nine governorates.

"Citizens above 18 years of age of both genders will be targeted during the first phase, she said, adding that they will test for Hepatitis C, diabetes and hypertension. Height and weight of citizens will also be measured for obesity as part of the campaign which will provide free treatment," she said.

"The campaign will be carried out through various surveillance points at health care units, Health Ministry hospitals, mobile clinics and other health facilities nationwide," she added.

President Sisi's initiative for treating Virus C

In the same context, World Health Organization representative in Egypt John Jabbour hailed the presidential initiative, saying it made Egypt a pioneering country in the health field.

"The WHO will technically monitor the initiative to ensure its implementation based on the set standards and in conformity with the training given to the medical and vocational cadres on the ground," he noted.

"The world is observing such successful initiatives and experiments in Egypt and trying to cooperate with the organization to make the best use of Egypt's experiment in this domain," he added.

Meanwhile, World Bank Health Care Officer Dr. Amr El-Shalakani said the World Bank has been a key partner for two years in the initiative to combat Hepatitis C in Egypt through technical support and now through funding.

Shalakani was delivering a speech during the conference, saying the bank sees the campaign as a leading project across the world, as no campaign has been carried out at such community level.

"It is a giant venture of influence to other nations as a leading experiment in terms of treatment and detection of Hepatitis C and chronic diseases," he underlined.

"The bank offers $133 million to support the part of the campaign connected with screening for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and non-communicable diseases and another $129 million for treatment of HCV patients," he added.

A website, expected to be launched soon, was announced by the ministry: http://www.stophcv.eg. The initiative hotline is 15335.