UAE to eradicate Hepatitis C by 2030

Ministry launches drive to raise awareness about early detection and latest treatment

Anew awareness campaign to help eradicate Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the UAE by 2030 has been launched, along with a new treatment that provides patients with a 95 per cent chance of being cured.

The campaign, ‘Ready to be Hepatitis C Cured’, is being organised by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in partnership with the Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society, with the aim of raising awareness about diagnosis and early detection among residents.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Hepatitis C as a liver disease caused by HCV, a virus that can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness.

HCV is a blood-borne virus and the most common modes of infection are through exposure

to small quantities of blood. This may happen through injection drug use, unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products.

“Although prevalence of HCV in the UAE is less than one per cent, only 30 to 50 per cent of people are diagnosed,” said Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, MOHAP’s assistant undersecretary for Health Centres and Clinics.

“HCV is recognised as a major cause of liver cirrhosis, endstage liver disease, and hepatocellular cancer — the most common type of primary liver cancer,” said Dr Al Rand.

The campaign encourages testing for people who fall under specific categories, including individuals who inject drugs, have a tattoo, have received care in countries of high HCV prevalence, haemodialysis patients, and individuals born between 1945 and 1965.

“HCV treatment options have undergone major transformation with the introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAA), which are highly effective and well tolerated with minimal side effects. These pills were recently introduced in the UAE and are covered by insurance,” said Dr Al Rand.

The medication, which consists of pills that are taken for a period of eight to 12 weeks, have proven to have a sustained viral response, reversing the effects of early stage fibrosis, and slowing down the progression of cirrhosis into decompensation.

Sam Kosma, senior medical manager at Gilead Science, a biopharmaceutical company, explained that unlike other chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, which can be controlled, HCV can be cured.