Hep Headlines
headlines
hep
Hepatitis is regularly
making the news
thanks to the efforts
of WHA members.
Here are a few
highlights. in terms of funding, there is
still a large challenge in terms
of reaching the roughly 50%
of people living with hepatitis
C who are unaware of their
diagnosis. Now that the treatment
infrastructure is in place, the
challenge is to expand awareness
and testing campaigns.
Pharmac to fund new Hep C
treatment in New Zealand Read more at www.radionz.co.nz/
news/national/378443/pharmac-
to-fund-new-hep-c-treatment
New Zealanders will now receive
access to hepatitis C treatment
no matter what type of the virus
they have. The announcement,
which was made by Pharmac,
the government drug agency, in
December 2018, kicked in at the
start of February.
Previously, only two types of
treatment were available: Viekira
Pak for those with type one and
Harvoni for end stage liver disease
involving all types. Pharmac
stated that about 3000 people
received these two drugs since
they were funded in 2016, but
that an estimated 24,000 others
have been living without a funded
treatment.
Now, Pharmac have stated that
the funding of the drug Maviret
means that most people with
hepatitis C will now have the
opportunity to access a funded
treatment that had the potential
to cure hepatitis C. While the
move is a major step forward
4 hep Voice FEBRUARY 2019
Ugandans not completing
Hepatitis B vaccine injections
Sarah Opendi, State Minister
for Health in Uganda, has told
Ugandan Parliament that many
Ugandans take the first dose
for hepatitis B, but that few are
returning for the second and third
doses that are required for the
vaccine to be effective.
Opendi stated: “The challenges
faced in implementing the
hepatitis B programme are the
high rates of loss to follow up
after the first and second doses of
vaccination”.
years old. According to Opendi,
the health ministry has been
implementing hepatitis B control
activities including screening and
vaccination of adolescents since
2015. So far 69 of 127 (54.3%)
districts have been covered.
Read more at www.newvision.
co.ug/new_vision/news/1494036/
ugandans-completing-doses-
hepatitis-b-vaccine
CEVHAP host first NOhep
Twitter Takeover
On 21st February the NOhep
Twitter platform was taken over
by CEVHAP (The Coalition for the
Eradication of Viral Hepatitis in
Asia Pacific).
The takeover came live from
Manila at the APASL Public Health
Forum highlighting key issues in
the fight against hepatitis in the
region.
She also stated that there
was a challenge posed by the
untimely provision of data from
districts to the ministry on the
implementation progress. At the event, representatives from
Taiwan presented on how they
intended to reach elimination by
2025. Stigma and discrimination
were key issues highlighted at
the event with Senator the Hon
Nancy Binay from the Philippines
delivering a keynote presentation
about how they are tackling
discrimination in the workplace.
Uganda is highly endemic for
hepatitis B with a prevalence
of 4.5% among adults 15-64 Read more at www.nohep.org
Follow CEVHAP on Twitter and
Facebook.
dates for
the diary
Upcoming events and activities
taking place in the coming
months.
Participating in a
hepatitis related
activity or have an
event planned?
Email us or contact
us on social media.
1 March
Zero Discrimination Day
Zero Discrimination Day is an annual day celebrated by the UN and other
international organisations. The day aims to promote equality before the law
and in practice throughout all of the member countries of the UN. With stigma
and discrimination being leading barriers to diagnosis for viral hepatitis, this day
provides an important platform to address these issues. Join in the conversation
on social media using #ZeroDiscrimination.
22 March
World Water Day
Sustainable Development Goal 6 is crystal clear: water for all by 2030. By
definition, this means leaving no one behind. But today, billions of people are
still living without safe water – their households, schools, workplaces, farms and
factories struggling to survive and thrive. Join in the conversation on social media
using #WorldWaterDay.
24 March
World TB Day
World TB Day, falling on 24th March each year, is designed to build public
awareness that tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in much of the
world, causing the deaths of nearly one-and-a-half million people each year,
mostly in developing countries. Join in the conversation on social media using
#ItsTimetoEndTB and #WorldTBDay2019, and by tagging @StopTB.
10-14 April
International Liver Conference
The International Liver Congress™ (ILC) is the most influential congress of its kind
worldwide, with participants attending from across the globe. ILC serves as the
leading platform to exhibit best practice and science, introduce the latest trends in
hepatology, present scientific advances, offer education and nurture networking at
an international level. Join in the conversation on social media using #ILC2019.
hep Voice
FEBRUARY 2019 5