In Camagüey, the adult clinic operates on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the José Martí polyclinic and the pediatric clinic meets every Friday at the specialty polyclinic
Camagüey, Cuba, July 29th.- On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, the Pan American Health Organization makes an urgent call to expand access to tests and treatments for viral hepatitis.
They are chronic silent infections that claim many lives each year; Most symptoms appear in advanced stages of the disease, leading to late diagnoses when severe liver disease or cancer has developed, frequently progressing to liver cirrhosis (CH) and liver cancer.
“Of the five types of hepatitis, B and C are responsible for the majority of illnesses and deaths. Worldwide, 400 million people are affected, 95% are unaware that they are infected”, commented Dr. Geidy Martín Díaz, provincial head of the Hepatitis B and C program at the Provincial Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology.
In the Americas, almost 80,000 new infections emerge each year, most of which go unnoticed.
Every year, between 60,000 and 100,000 people die from this cause. It is estimated worldwide that 57% of CH and 78% of liver cancer are caused by HBV and HCV.
“Our province has maintained stable behavior in the last three years. In the case of HB with a very low incidence and HC with rates that show a slight increase. But we cannot settle for this scenario, surveillance must still be increased to look for hidden morbidity that may exist and thus diagnose them early».
The routes of transmission are contact with infected fluids and blood, through needles and contaminated personal objects (razors, nail pliers), unprotected sexual relations and between mother and child during childbirth (vertical transmission).
“Prevention is possible, there are vaccines and effective treatments that offer hope for everyone. The hepatitis B vaccine is available for both adults and children, while safe oral treatments can cure hepatitis C”.
Knowing your status and accessing treatment is crucial for pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
“PAHO works together with the countries of the region to expand access to diagnostic tests, medicines and vaccines through the United Nations global fund. “Together we can eliminate hepatitis in the Americas region and achieve the PAHO elimination goals for 2030. Let us reduce the number of cases and avoid unnecessary deaths caused by Hepatitis B and C infections”.
Vaccination of the newborn during the first 24 hours of life is key to preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis, followed by complete vaccination during the first year of life.
“Once any of these tests are positive, follow-up is carried out through the office and they are sent to the provincial consultation, a specialized team, for diagnostic confirmation.
The adult consultation works on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the José Martí polyclinic and the pediatric consultation meets every Friday at the specialty polyclinic”.
(Radio Cadena Agramonte)