The prevalence of hepatitis C has reduced significantly in Qatar, according to an early screening campaign for the disease conducted by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) jointly with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC).
The screening included more than 7,600 people. The prevalence of hepatitis C is 0.8 percent among the entire population of Qatar, with only 0.25 percent among Qataris. According to World Health Organization, Qatar is also classified as a low-burden type B hepatitis, with a prevalence rate of less than two percent.
Several hepatitis C positive cases found during the screening were transferred to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and treated with the latest and most effective medical drugs known as ‘direct antiviral drugs.’ The medicines for hepatitis C are provided free to all citizens and residents through the Liver Diseases Department of HMC, in cooperation with the Qatar Red Crescent, the private sector and other partners in the country.
Also, the MoPH together with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education conducted a screening campaign among school students to detect hepatitis B and found that no case was found. It reflects the high coverage of the immunisation programme against hepatitis B in Qatar.
While, several events are being held in Qatar to commemorate the World Hepatitis Day, which is marked today, under the slogan ‘Eliminate Hepatitis.’ World Hepatitis Day is an opportunity to enhance the efforts to implement the WHO Global Health Strategy for 2016-2021 and to help countries achieve the ultimate goal of eradicating
hepatitis.
The MoPH, HMC and the PHCC, together with national partners, are holding awareness campaigns against the disease.
The Ministry also organised seminars and workshops for medical staff to raise their competence in identifying and treating the disease in line with the directives of the World Health Organization, which urges decision makers, medical workers and members of the community to identify viral hepatitis.
