Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by 5 different viruses, designated by the letters A, B, C, D, and E. When the virus reaches the liver, it enters its cells (hepatocytes) and s multiplies there. The immune system, whose role is to defend the body, then destroys the infected cells, which causes inflammation of the liver.
According to the Institut Pasteur, hepatitis B is one of the main human diseases with more than 370 million chronic carriers (that is to say: who can transmit the virus), and more than 600,000 annual deaths. Hepatitis C, for its part, affects 130 to 170 million chronic carriers worldwide, and causes nearly 350,000 deaths annually.
While these two diseases are mostly asymptomatic, carriers of hepatitis B have a higher than average risk of developing liver cancer or cirrhosis of the liver (diseases that kill around one million people every year ) and carriers of hepatitis C, to develop hepatocellular carcinoma.
Asymptomatic but deadly diseases
Regarding hepatitis C, Morocco, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are among the few countries to have not only generic drugs at reduced prices but also a relatively large budget dedicated to public health. . Problem: according to a recent survey conducted by Coalition Plus (an international union of community NGOs fighting against AIDS and viral hepatitis), “the process of caring for people living with hepatitis C remains disastrous in these 5 countries “.
According to experts, several dysfunctions explain this situation: a lack of awareness of HCV (hepatitis C virus), both on the side of patients and health professionals, a path to access examinations that are “long and expensive (with waiting times for test results of up to 3 weeks), treatments that are regularly out of stock (even in the capitals)…
“To succeed in treating 80% of the 71 million people infected with HCV by 2030, as the States within the United Nations have committed to, it is urgent to launch large-scale communication operations now. national level and to reorganize healthcare services to make them more operational and accessible. »
Source: Coalition Plus press release.
To read :
Hepatitis B and C: increased screening
8 organizations denounce the exorbitant price of “innovative” treatments
Measles and hepatitis B: according to the OECD, French children are not vaccinated enough
