WHO: Egypt is the first country in the world to achieve the gold standard for eliminating hepatitis C

The world celebrates World Hepatitis Day every year on July 28 to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, a liver inflammation often caused by a viral infection that progresses to severe liver disease and liver cancer.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated in a statement that in 2023, Egypt became the first country in the world to achieve the gold standard on the path to eliminating hepatitis C, according to WHO standards.

On World Hepatitis Day 2025, the WHO urges communities, policymakers, and health authorities to commit to taking concerted action to eliminate hepatitis. Under the theme "Easy Steps to Eliminate Hepatitis," this year's campaign calls for urgent action to: remove financial, social, and public barriers—including stigma—that stand in the way of hepatitis elimination and liver cancer prevention; expand hepatitis services, including vaccination, safe injection practices, harm reduction, and, most importantly, testing and treatment, and integrate them into national health systems.

She said that tangible progress has been made in the region. In 2023, Egypt became the first country in the world to achieve the gold standard for eliminating hepatitis C, according to WHO standards. Through the "100 Million Healthy Lives" presidential initiative, more than 60 million people were screened for hepatitis, and more than 4.3 million received free treatment.

These efforts represent 70% of hepatitis C treatment in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and 35% of the global total, and have led to a 35% reduction in hepatitis-related deaths since 2018.

In December 2024, Egypt became the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve hepatitis B control status, having successfully reduced its prevalence to less than 5% among children aged 9 years and older and maintained coverage above 90%.