More than 3M people tested for hepatitis C since Oct.1: Min.

CAIRO – 17 October 2018: Over 3 million people have been tested for hepatitis C at healthcare units, Health Ministry hospitals, mobile clinics, and other health facilities nationwide since the launch of the campaign to free Egypt from hepatitis C, Minister of Health Hala Zayed stated on Oct.17.

On October 1, Zayed said in a press conference held at the Cabinet headquarters that the campaign was launched upon President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s directives and it aims at eliminating hepatitis C and reducing fatalities from chronic diseases.



Zayed added that the campaign runs from October 1 to the end of April 2019, stressing that patients will receive treatment for one to one and a half year, to announce Egypt free from the blood-borne disease by 2020 or 2021.

Citizens above 18 years of age of both sexes will be targeted during the first phase, she pointed out, explaining that they will test for hepatitis C, diabetes and hypertension. Height and weight of citizens will also be measured for obesity as part of the campaign which will provide free treatment, Zayed reiterated.

As part of the president’s initiative, Manal al-Sayed, a member of Egypt’s National Committee for the Control of Viral Hepatitis, said that school children between 12 and 18 years old will undergo the early detection tests starting March 2019.

In the same context, Director of the national campaign, Riham Allam, said that the campaign will take place in nine governorates.

Allam added that the second stage of the campaign will kick off in December and the third will start in March and end in April. The director pointed out in a phone call with the TV show “Ra’ei A’aam” (Public Opinion), aired by TEN satellite channel, that the campaign's schedule will be published on a special website to inform citizens of the medical centers performing the medical tests.

“The majority of the Egyptian families suffer from hepatitis C, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. All of the aforementioned diseases will be tested and patients will receive free medical treatment,” said Allam.