On the World Hepatitis Day, July 28, 2015, the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA) calls on the policy makers, health workers, and the public to provide the maximum coverage of vaccination for those in need and increase the awareness level of people regarding Hepatitis, especially B and C, in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

 “Hepatitis B” causes severe and chronic infections that may lead to cirrhosis in the liver and emergence of malignant tumors. The World Health Organization estimates that 350 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis B. People who inject drugs are considered a key population at risk of being infected with Hepatitis B. Worldwide, the number of people who inject drugs is estimated at 16 million in 148 countries. In 2011, estimations indicated that around 1.2 million injecting drug users have Hepatitis B and 10 million people who inject drugs have Hepatitis C. As for the Middle East region, this percentage ranges between 2.5% in Lebanon and 18.5% in Saudi Arabia.

The main means of transmission of Hepatitis include unsterilized medical needles, blood contact, and unprotected sex. MENAHRA urges the need to raise awareness regarding the transmission of Hepatitis by sharing contaminated injecting equipment among injecting drug users.

On this day, MENAHRA calls on the decision makers, especially the governments in the Middle East and North Africa, to model after the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health by listing the harm reduction programs and strategies within their own country’s health policies. The Ministry of Health in Lebanon has, in cooperation with MENAHRA and civil society organizations, begun conducting tests for Hepatitis B and C among people who inject drugs and have launched a vaccination campaign against Hepatitis B for this key population. This work will contribute to a high reduction of risks of transmission, and thus positively affecting the public health at the country level, especially that the campaign is accompanied by other harm reduction activities such as NSP and OST programs.

Elie Aaraj
Executive Director
MENAHRA