Republic of Mauritius- World Hepatitis Day Government aims to trace, eradicate and eliminate Hepatitis in Mauritius, states Health Minister

​GIS – 29 July 2020:The main aim of Government is to trace, eradicate and eliminate Hepatitis in Mauritius. We currently have 13 centres including the five national hospitals for the treatment of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C patients and to better fight the virus intensive training sessions will be provided to doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

This statement was made today by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr K. Jagutpal at the Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital on the occasion of the launching of  activities to commemorate World Hepatitis Day 2020.

Minister Jagutpal underlined that 98% of patients are successfully treated in Mauritius and the treatment period lasts up to 12 weeks. He added that the main aim for the country to meet the requirements well before the deadline set by the World Health Organisation.

On the occasion the Minister offered boxes of Hepatitis C medications to patients and visited the new digital equipment put in place for the treatment of Hepatitis.

World Hepatitis Day takes place every year on 28 July bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change. In 2020 the theme is ‘Find the Missing Millions’.

Worldwide, 290 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware. Without finding the undiagnosed and linking them to care, millions will continue to suffer, and lives will be lost. On World Hepatitis Day, 28 July, we call on people from across the world to take action and raise awareness to find the “missing millions”.

World Hepatitis Day is commemorated each year on 28 July to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes a range of health problems, including liver cancer.

There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E. Together, Hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of deaths, with 1.4 million lives lost each year. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, viral hepatitis continues to claim thousands of lives every day.

This year’s theme is “Hepatitis-free future,” with a strong focus on preventing Hepatitis B (HBV) among mothers and newborns. On 28 July, WHO will publish new recommendations on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus. HBV can be prevented among newborns through the use of a safe and effective vaccine.