On World Hepatitis Day – July 28, 2016, the Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association (MENAHRA) continues its mission to support and collaborate with partners, public health workers, and the community to raise awareness on Hepatitis B and C.

MENAHRA also supports the first-ever Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis 2016 – 2021 which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in in May 2016. The new strategy includes a 30% reduction in new cases of Hepatitis B and C, and a 10% reduction in mortality by 2020.

Viral Hepatitis causes severe and chronic infections that may lead to cirrhosis in the liver and the emergence of malignant tumors. The World Health Organization estimates that 240 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis B, while 130–150 million people globally have chronic Hepatitis C infection. Only 5% of people with chronic Hepatitis know of their infection, and less that 1% has access to treatment.

People Who Inject Drugs are at a higher risk of contracting Viral Hepatitis, estimations indicated that around 1.2 million injecting drug users have Hepatitis B and 10 million people who inject drugs have Hepatitis C.

On this day, MENAHRA urges the need to raise awareness regarding the transmission of Hepatitis B and C by sharing contaminated injecting equipment. MENAHRA also calls the decision makers, health workers and the public, to commit to “Know Hepatitis – Act Now,” and increase awareness in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

MENAHRA also urges governments to list the harm reduction programs and strategies, such as Needle-Syringe Programs and Opioid Substitution Therapy, within their country’s health policies and to ensure the availability of Hepatitis vaccinations for People Who Use Drugs.

Elie Aaraj
Executive Director – MENAHRA