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- Ελληνικά
July 28 has been established as World Hepatitis Day at the initiative of the World Health Organization.
The aim of this day is to raise public awareness about viral hepatitis, to inform the public about the ways of transmission, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of infected persons and to raise awareness of the competent bodies for the implementation of actions that will lead to the elimination of these serious infections.
According to data from the World Health Organization, most hepatitis patients are in the dark, with 8 out of 10 people not knowing they have the disease. Every year, nearly 1.5 million people die from hepatitis. It is no coincidence that scientists have called hepatitis a "silent disease", because the symptoms appear several years later, and as a result, due to late diagnosis, therapeutic interventions are often ineffective.
Vaccination against hepatitis B is included in our country's National Vaccination Programme and is the only effective way to prevent the disease and its complications.
Vaccination against hepatitis B is included in our country's National Vaccination Programme and is the only effective way to prevent the disease and its complications. In addition, the use of a combination of antiviral drugs has contributed significantly to the treatment of viral hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C is now curable, since in recent years new generation drugs have radically changed the landscape in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Today, all patients have access to the new treatment regimens through the Hepatology Clinics of OCYPY (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos) which lead to complete viral clearance and cure of the infection.
A strategic goal in our country and a priority for the policies of the Ministry of Health is the elimination of hepatitis C by the end of 2030, through the National Strategic Action Plan.
The message for this year's World Hepatitis Day is "We don't wait."
People living with viral hepatitis who don't know it cannot wait for screening for diagnosis.
People living with viral hepatitis cannot wait for life-saving treatment.
People living with viral hepatitis cannot wait for an end to discrimination and stigma.
Therefore, people around the world are urged to take action because hepatitis, cannot wait. Together, we can do it.
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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