Egypt unifies efforts with int’l community to eliminate hepatitis by 2030: Health minister

CAIRO – 29 July 2023: Egypt’s Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said his ministry seeks to unify efforts with the international community to eradicate hepatitis by 2030.

The goal comes in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and World Health Organization (WHO) goals to ensure welfare and prosperity to all, the minister said in a delivered speech at the WHO meeting in Geneva to mark the World Hepatitis Day.

Egypt achieved great success over the past few years regarding the eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV), which had caused the death of nearly 40,000 to 50,000 persons annually, Abdel Ghaffar said.

Egypt has devised a multifaceted plan with the participation of all bodies and sectors concerned for prevention and treatment of this disease, he affirmed, adding that Egypt has detected and treated almost four million HCV cases in five years.

Egypt looks forward to working with regional and global verification committees in order to be officially recognized as the first country to be able to eliminate HCV, the minister noted.

The World Hepatitis Day, recognized annually on July 28, provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis.

This year, the day is celebrated under the theme: “One Life, One Liver” to highlight the role of in ensuring a healthy life, and the need to intensify viral hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment.

Such efforts are in line with the goal of achieving the 2030 hepatitis elimination goals.

Every day, around 8,000 new hepatitis B and C infections take place, which are mostly going undetected, according to the WHO data.

More than one million hepatitis-related deaths occur every year, WHO adds.