2023-10-11 16:37:55
Egypt Achieves “Gold Level” in Confronting Virus C
Egypt has garnered praise for its efforts in combating Hepatitis C, as it was awarded the prestigious “gold level” certificate by the World Health Organization (WHO) for its successful path in eliminating the disease. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the certificate from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom on Monday, with several health officials and leaders also in attendance.
The Director-General highlighted Egypt’s remarkable achievement in transforming from a country with the highest rates of Hepatitis C infection to the first nation in the world to attain this distinguished level in eradicating the virus. Adhanom emphasized that President El-Sisi’s personal commitment and dedication to this cause played a pivotal role in Egypt’s success.
The WHO further explained in a statement that reaching the “gold level” signifies that Egypt has fulfilled the requirements to drastically reduce infections and deaths, qualifying it to eliminate the disease. Ashraf Omar, President of the Egyptian Liver Cancer Society and a former member of the National Committee for Combating Hepatitis Viruses, praised Egypt’s attainment of this level, highlighting the nation’s advanced healthcare system and its success in addressing Hepatitis C.
Egypt previously held the unfortunate distinction of having the highest number of Hepatitis C infections globally. However, with its determined efforts, the country has now become a leader in the fight against the disease, marking a significant achievement. Omar stressed that eliminating Hepatitis C is not just a matter of health but impacts social and economic aspects as well, costing the state billions in diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from the virus’ consequences.
The success achieved by Egypt can be attributed to three factors, according to Omar: the political will that supported the initiative, the widespread healthcare infrastructure, and the efficient medical personnel supervising diagnosis and treatment. The specialist also pointed out that negotiating with international pharmaceutical companies to provide local treatments for the virus was crucial. These initiatives enabled Egypt to offer free treatment for all infected Egyptians, while conducting the largest disease survey in the world to detect cases and provide treatment for free, ultimately eradicating the C virus.
Globally, nearly 58 million people live with chronic Hepatitis C infection. Although a vaccine is not currently available, the disease can be cured through short-term and highly effective treatments lasting 8 to 12 weeks. Shockingly, 4 out of 5 people infected with HCV are unaware of their condition, which can lead to liver disease or cancer if left untreated.
The WHO’s statement also revealed that Egypt diagnosed 87 percent of people with HCV and provided treatment to 93 percent of those diagnosed, surpassing the organization’s gold level targets. Egypt’s efforts have led to a significant reduction in the spread of the virus, from 10 percent to less than one percent in just over a decade.
Egypt’s achievement in eliminating Hepatitis C serves as an inspiration and testament to the nation’s commitment to prioritize public health. The gold level certification from the WHO acknowledges Egypt’s successful efforts and paves the way for continued progress in combatting not only Hepatitis C but other diseases as well.]
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