Egypt provides Hepatitis C treatment to over 105,506 refugees

CAIRO – 28 November 2024: Countries including Georgia, Romania, Germany, and Portugal participated in an international workshop to discuss the challenges in combating Hepatitis C and to explore how Egypt’s successful strategies can inform their own efforts.

The workshop, held from November 26 to 28 in collaboration with the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), focused on sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices for addressing the disease.

Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, highlighted that the participating countries examined Egypt’s comprehensive approach to expanding Hepatitis C screenings, which includes the use of advanced diagnostics and community awareness campaigns. These strategies have significantly contributed to the country’s success in reaching target populations.

On the workshop's second day, discussions centered on the obstacles faced by countries in screening hard-to-reach populations and how Egypt overcame these challenges. The Egyptian model involves identifying target groups, deploying medical teams with mobile clinics, and conducting campaigns in remote areas.

Abdel Ghaffar noted that Egypt has included refugees among its target groups for Hepatitis C screening and treatment. Through partnerships with international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Egypt has provided free treatment to more than 105,506 refugees.

The sessions also detailed Egypt’s mechanisms for tracking and treating Hepatitis C patients with complications, building on the success of the 100 Million Healthy Lives initiative for early detection of Hepatitis C and infectious diseases. This includes launching early detection and treatment initiatives for liver cancer.

Moreover, discussions addressed Egypt’s proactive efforts to combat Hepatitis B by offering free vaccinations to all age groups and raising public awareness about prevention measures.