About 4 percent of Vietnam’s population get infected with hepatitis C. (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – About 4 percent ofVietnam’s population get infected with hepatitis C but they are not aware ofthe infection, thus increasing the risk of the virus spread among thecommunity, heard a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on February 1.
Tieu Thi Thu Van, Director of the HCM City HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre, said theMinistry of Health issued national guidelines on hepatitis C diagnosis andtreatment in 2016.
However, she said, most of the patients are not aware of their condition,especially those at risks of HIV infection or living with HIV carriers, who arepossible to contract hepatitis C.
With the support of PATH, an international health organisation driving transformativeinnovation to save lives, and Gilead Sciences, Inc, since February 2018, 2,500people will be tested for hepatitis C free. Besides, up to 90 percent ofhepatitis C carriers will receive treatment.
Dr. Kimberly Green, Director of HIV/TB and Non-communicable Diseases Programmeof PATH, said 43-99 percent of injection drug users and 29 percent of men whohave sex with men get infected with hepatitis C.
According to the World Health Organisation, hepatitis C is a liver diseasecaused by the hepatitis C virus which is a bloodborne virus. The most commonmodes of infection are through exposure to small quantities of blood. This mayhappen through injection during drug use, unsafe injection practices, unsafehealth care, and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products.
Globally, an estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C infection. -VNA
VNA
