The Dubai Health Authority (DHA), in partnership with AbbVie Biopharmaceuticals and Axios Home Care Services, recently announced the launch of a three-year awareness campaign to highlight the importance of early detection and prevention of Hepatitis C. The campaign, titled “Early Detection of Hepatitis C” is part of the “EKSHEF” screening initiative for the early detection of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Dr. Ramadan Ibrahim AlBlooshi, Acting Director of the Public Health and Protection Department at the Dubai Health Authority, said that the campaign is aligned with the UAE and World Health Organization’s goal to eliminate the hepatitis C disease by 2030. It also falls under the UAE’s sustainable development goals.
The programme involves a range of awareness campaigns as well as free check-ups for individuals aged 18 years and above. The screening activities will take place across malls, workers’ accommodation sites, government organisations and public spaces across Dubai.
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus can cause acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from mild illness to serious, lifelong illness including cirrhosis and cancer. The World Health Organization estimated that approximately 290,000 people died from hepatitis C disease, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) in 2019.
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Although the prevalence of the disease is low in the UAE, Dr. AlBlooshi highlighted that it is important to raise community awareness as the disease can go undetected, adding that nearly 80 per cent of people infected with hepatitis C do not develop symptoms. The latest antiviral drugs and treatments are further leading to a cure for nearly 95 per cent of people suffering from this disease.
Dr. Hend Al Awadhi, Head of Health Promotion at Education at the Public Health and Protection Department at DHA, added that the aim of the campaign is to raise awareness among all Dubai residents aged 18 years and above to reduce transmission, treat individuals, stop disease progression, reduce mortality and ultimately eliminate the disease in Dubai altogether.
“Our primary focus at the Public Health Protection Department in this campaign is to raise awareness of the disease. We plan to raise the level of health awareness for individuals through field visits across government entities, malls, and workers’ accommodations in Dubai,” she said.
At the campaign launch, Dr. Hassan Sabah, General Manager — Gulf and Levant at AbbVie, emphasised the importance of screening and early detection of the hepatitis C virus, noting that the campaign support programme directs patients to obtain and adhere to treatment, and provides moral support which patients often lack in the stages of treatment.
