About 4 percent of Vietnam’s population get infected with hepatitis C. (Source: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – About 4 percent of
Vietnam’s population get infected with hepatitis C but they are not aware of
the infection, thus increasing the risk of the virus spread among the
community, heard a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on February 1.
Tieu Thi Thu Van, Director of the , said the
Ministry of Health issued national guidelines on hepatitis C diagnosis and
treatment in 2016.
However, she said, most of the patients are not aware of their condition,
especially those at risks of HIV infection or living with , who are
possible to contract hepatitis C.
With the support of PATH, an international health organisation driving transformative
innovation to save lives, and Gilead Sciences, Inc, since February 2018, 2,500
people will be tested for hepatitis C free. Besides, up to 90 percent of
carriers will receive treatment.
Dr. Kimberly Green, Director of HIV/TB and Non-communicable Diseases Programme
of PATH, said 43-99 percent of injection drug users and 29 percent of men who
have sex with men get infected with hepatitis C.
According to the World Health Organisation, hepatitis C is a liver disease
caused by the hepatitis C virus which is a bloodborne virus. The most common
modes of infection are through exposure to small quantities of blood. This may
happen through injection during drug use, unsafe injection practices, unsafe
health care, and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products.
Globally, an estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C infection. -VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
