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TEHRAN \u2013Thanks to implementing a nationwide vaccination program, the prevalence of hepatitis B has declined from 2.5 percent to approximately one percent in the country, an official with the\u00a0health ministry has said.<\/p>\n
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease.<\/p>\n
The acute disease can be treated without the need for medications. However, chronic infection usually puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.<\/p>\n
The best and most effective way to prevent Hepatitis B is to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n
The vaccination program kicked off years ago targeting individuals under the age of 37, IRNA quoted Qobad Moradi as saying.<\/p>\n
He made the remarks on the occasion of the national hepatitis awareness week, which is being observed in the country from October 22 to 28.<\/p>\n
The week aims to enhance preventive measures by raising public awareness, screening as well as controlling viral hepatitis infections.<\/p>\n
In March, Hossein Farshidi, the deputy health minister, said a national program to control Hepatitis B will kick off on September 22, IRNA reported.<\/p>\n
Hepatitis C to be eliminated in 2 years<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The ministry of health is planning to eradicate hepatitis C across the country within a period of 2 to 3 years.<\/p>\n If the necessary budget is provided, we will eliminate hepatitis within two to three years,\u201d ISNA quoted Shahnam Arshi, a health ministry official, as saying.<\/p>\n Universities of medical science have put the eradication of hepatitis C in the spotlight, he stressed.<\/p>\n An estimated 200,000 people in the country are infected with hepatitis C, Arshi noted, adding that the ministry has been importing diagnosis kits for identifying patients.<\/p>\n In August 2023, Saeid Karimi, the deputy health minister, said that free treatment for hepatitis C is provided for patients in the country.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope to eliminate hepatitis C from the country with insurance coverage and other efficient measures,\u201d IRNA quoted Karimi as saying.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be able to do so, many patients have been diagnosed and registered in the [treatment] systems,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n So far, some 600 patients under insurance coverage have been treated free of charge, he noted.<\/p>\n Iran is planning to provide free diagnosis and treatment services to people who are suffering from hepatitis and eradicate the disease by 2030.<\/p>\n Diagnosis of the disease under the health network is free for all, and treatment is also free for financially vulnerable families.<\/p>\n In the year 1400 (ended in March 2022), some 14,500 patients were treated and in the previous year (ended in March 2023), some 16,500 patients were treated in the country.<\/p>\n MT\/MG<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n