Tehran – National Hepatitis Awareness Week is scheduled to be observed from July 26th to August 2nd.
Hepatitis is a liver inflammation that causes severe liver disease and cancer.
This week we will focus on a campaign entitled “Transfer to Hepatitis Elimination.” It aims to raise public awareness, provide the community with scientific information about the disease, screen high-risk groups, engage non-governmental organizations, and support policy makers.
Media, universities and various organizations are also invited to participate in coordinating the implementation of the campaign.
Expanding access to hepatitis C is one of the country’s top priorities, the Ministry of Health website reports.
Management of hepatitis B and C is one of the key challenges of the country’s health system, and Qobad Moradi, Qobad Moradi, is the main goal of the Ministry of Health, to be abolished by 2030, is a health ministry official.
Emphasizing the role of diagnosis and care for patients with hepatitis, Moradi said that more than 3 million people live with chronic hepatitis B and C, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Thanks to free and effective treatment of the disease, early diagnosis can help avoid complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, Moradi noted.
Officials made a statement on World Hepatitis Day, which is celebrated annually on July 28th. It is an opportunity to strengthen national and international efforts on hepatitis, encourage behavior and engagement by individuals, partners and the public, and highlight the need for a greater global response, as outlined in the 2017 WHO Global Hepatitis Report.
Hepatitis is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious drugs, leading to a variety of health problems, some of which are fatal.
Low coverage of testing and treatment is the most important gap to address to achieve global exclusion goals by 2030.
The 2025 theme, Hepatitis: Let’s break it down, calls for urgent action to dismantle financial, social and systematic barriers that are hindering hepatitis removal and liver cancer prevention.
Iran, who forms a working group to eliminate hepatitis C
In 2024, Iran and the WHO agreed to create a joint working group with the aim of eradicating hepatitis C in the country.
Deputy Health Minister Hassan Falsidy highlighted the establishment of a joint working group to eliminate hepatitis C in a meeting with Jerome Salomon, Assistant Director of Comerome and Communabution disease.
Authorities met onlookers at the 77th World Health Parliament (WHA) held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 27 to June 1.
During the meeting, Falsidi submitted a report on measures taken in Iran to control and prevent hepatitis C, highlighting the key strengths of Iran’s national programmes, including the integration of strong primary health care services (PHC) and programs to combat and manage hepatitis.
Salomon praised Iran for its commitment and strong will in elimination of hepatitis C, and announced it is ready to support Iran’s plans in the region.
He also called Iran a role model in other regional countries in the elimination and control of hepatitis C.
Both sides agreed to establish a joint working group to support the eradication of Iran’s hepatitis C programme.
Additionally, a team of experts from the World Health Organization will visit Iran to assess the strengths and needs of eliminating hepatitis C.
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