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Health minister’s message on World Hepatitis Day |28 July 2014

 

 

‘Prevention is the best weapon we have against hepatitis’

Treatment in Seychelles for hepatitis C is not yet available, and hence, the best solution we know of and the best weapon we have is prevention.
The statement comes in a message by the Minister for Health Mitcy Larue on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day being celebrated today.
The full text of Minister Larue’s message reads:

“Today, more than 400 people in Seychelles are known to be infected with the hepatitis C virus.The hepatitis virus is more infectious than HIV, and just as lethal. This makes it a major public health threat to our small nation.

“Hepatitis is a unique developmental and challenging health issue. We need to accelerate our multisectoral actions for preventing hepatitis infection by addressing the structural causes of vulnerability and involving all relevant stakeholders in policy decisions, planning and programme implementation to promote health awareness in regards to hepatitis.  

“We are well aware that treatment in Seychelles for hepatitis C is not yet available, and hence, the best solution we know of and the best weapon we have is prevention. Raising awareness of the condition and its prevention is THE Solution.

“We must help to make the environment more conducive for preventive interventions to take place; we must address the factors that make our youths vulnerable and put them at increased risk of getting hepatitis; we must lessen the impact on those already infected or affected, by providing care and support services.  
“This year’s theme has come at the right time for us to reaffirm our commitments. The theme adopted for this year is: “Hepatitis! Think again.” It is an opportune time to ask ‘Are we doing enough to protect ourselves and our Nation from this disease?’  Hepatitis must become a health priority. Many lives could be saved through simple preventive measures such as using condoms, not injecting drugs, and for those who are injecting, not to share needle and syringes.
 
“The Ministry of Health has ensured that no transmission of any blood borne diseases, including hepatitis, happen by blood transfusion through a rigorous screening and testing. My ministry also ensures that all children are adequately immunised against hepatitis B since 1995.

Healthcare workers and the public need to be educated on the risks, and the surveillance system for hepatitis need to be strengthened.
“This Hepatitis Day is a reminder of the complex challenge ahead.  Despite the improvements in prevention and care, many areas are still insufficiently covered. The call to address all facets of hepatitis is an urgent one.

“The Ministry of Health must work with other national authorities to promote comprehensive and equitable access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis, with particular attention to evidence based harm reduction programmes targeting intravenous drug users.

Unless we act now to create greater awareness AND A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOUR among policymakers, healthcare workers, and the public, viral hepatitis will remain a major public health threat.”

 

 

 

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