Kuwait Times

Experts demand better prevention, treatment for children with hepatitis

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SAO PAULO: Experts at the second World Hepatitis Summit Friday called for improved preventati­ve measures and treatment for 52 million children suffering from the disease, on the final day of the three-day event in Sao Paulo. Of 325 million confirmed patients worldwide, 52 million are minors-a number far higher than the 2.1 million children suffering from AIDS, according to figures provided at the summit. “Most infected infants and children are not diagnosed, prioritize­d or treated effectivel­y,” Raquel Peck, CEO of World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), said in a statement. Hepatitis is an inflammati­on of the liver caused by a virus. There are five types, but B and C are responsibl­e for more than half of all new cases of liver cancer, according to the World Health Organizati­on. Often transmitte­d from mothers, 48 million children have type B. But experts drew attention to increased diagnoses of hepatitis C, for which no vaccine existsand expressed concerns about the lack of preventati­ve measures. Data released at the summit indicated 84 percent of countries offer hepatitis B vaccines-but only 39 percent provide the necessary dose at birth.

“Enough is enough. Government­s and global health organizati­ons must ensure all children are vaccinated for hepatitis B and provided with DAAs (direct-acting antivirals) for hepatitis C, and that all pregnant women are screened,” said Charles Gore, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance. Last year, 194 countries pledged to take steps to eradicate hepatitis-a liver inflammati­on which kills 1.3 million people each year-by 2030. However, only nine are now honoring that commitment, according to figures released Wednesday. —AFP

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