The Ministry of Health (MOH) has promulgated a plan on viral hepatitisprevention for the 2015-2019 period to reduce the spread of hepatitisviruses and improve community access to screening, treatment and careservices, said Tran Dac Phu, Head of the MOH’s Preventive HealthDepartment.
The World Health Organisation (WHO)has estimated that about two billion people worldwide are infected withthe hepatitis B virus and around 130 – 150 million people werechronically infected with the hepatitis C virus in 2014. About onemillion people die every year as a result of the viral disease, or 2.7percent of all fatalities globally.
Hepatitis Band C viruses are major causes of liver cancer and cirrhosis. Anestimated 57 percent of cases of liver cirrhosis and 78 percent of casesof primary liver cancer result from hepatitis B and C virus infections.
According to the Preventive Health Department,8-25 percent of people in certain population groups in Vietnam havehepatitis B and some 2.5 – 4.1 percent of such population groups arepositive for hepatitis C.
Chronic hepatitisremains a major public health problem and liver cancer is the mostcommon cause of cancer mortalities in Vietnam.
The hepatitis B vaccine has been used in the country’s ExpandedProgramme of Immunisation since 1997 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
It has been given to children under one year old nationwide since 2003 with a coverage rate of over 90 percent.
Since 2006, the vaccine has been applied to newborns within the first24 hours after birth. Pregnant women are also encouraged to be screenedfor hepatitis to prevent mother-to-child transmissions.-VNA
The World Health Organisation (WHO)has estimated that about two billion people worldwide are infected withthe hepatitis B virus and around 130 – 150 million people werechronically infected with the hepatitis C virus in 2014. About onemillion people die every year as a result of the viral disease, or 2.7percent of all fatalities globally.
Hepatitis Band C viruses are major causes of liver cancer and cirrhosis. Anestimated 57 percent of cases of liver cirrhosis and 78 percent of casesof primary liver cancer result from hepatitis B and C virus infections.
According to the Preventive Health Department,8-25 percent of people in certain population groups in Vietnam havehepatitis B and some 2.5 – 4.1 percent of such population groups arepositive for hepatitis C.
Chronic hepatitisremains a major public health problem and liver cancer is the mostcommon cause of cancer mortalities in Vietnam.
The hepatitis B vaccine has been used in the country’s ExpandedProgramme of Immunisation since 1997 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
It has been given to children under one year old nationwide since 2003 with a coverage rate of over 90 percent.
Since 2006, the vaccine has been applied to newborns within the first24 hours after birth. Pregnant women are also encouraged to be screenedfor hepatitis to prevent mother-to-child transmissions.-VNA
