The mission gathered experts from different agencies to assess the current status of viral hepatitis in Egypt. Photo credit: WHO.18 February 2012 – Viral hepatitis is an immense public health problem in Egypt. More than eight million people suffer from chronic infection and more than 150 000 new cases occur every year.
In response to this situation, WHO headquarters and the WHO country office in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, held a mission from 11 to 16 February 2012 to asseess viral hepatitis control efforts in Egypt.
The mission assessed the viral hepatitis situation in the country and examined ways to improve existing strategies for surveillance, epidemiology, control and prevention. The main conclusions of the mission were:
prevention activities are inadequate, understaffed and underfunded
there is an urgent need for the establishment of a national hepatitis programme
integrated policies, regulations and multisector collaboration are required
advocacy for the programme is essential.