WHO backs Egypt’s initiative to treat one million Africans in 18 countries from Heptitis C

The World Health Organization (WHO) voiced support for an Egyptian initiative to treat one million Africans in 18 countries from Hepatitis Virus C.

The World Health Organization held a meeting on July 17 with representatives of nine WHO offices in Africa and the Middle East to review the health challenges besetting the 18 countries and draw up an action plan to buttress the treatment of one million Africans.

The two-day meeting was meant to lay down an action plan and a timetable for promoting the health system in African states to attain the aspired Sustainable Development Goals and eradicate Hepatitis Virus C by 2030.

For his part, WHO Representative in Egypt John Jabbour said the organization will play a pivotal role in supporting the initiative within the framework of continued cooperation between the organization and Egypt.

The Egyptian Health Ministry said President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s initiative to treat one million Africans from Hepatitis Virus C is a humanitarian overture. Egypt will join hands with all partners to render the initiative successful. The WHO will offer technical support for the initiative.

In October 2018, Egypt launched a “100 million Seha” initiative under the auspices of President Abdel Fatah El Sisi with an aim to eliminate the disease by 2022.

Egypt also plans to secure Hepatitis B Birth Dose Vaccination for children in Africa, especially in countries which suffer from this disease, in order to get rid of this disease.