South Sudan’s Ministry of Health on Wednesday said an Egyptian medical team is in the capital Juba to open the country’s first hepatitis unit.
The move is part of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's initiative to treat 1 million Africans with Hepatitis C.
“Many death cases in South Sudan are caused by hepatitis. The President of Egypt has pledged to treat one million Africans suffering from Hepatitis C. Now there is a free testing and treatment for hepatitis in Juba, “Health Minister Riek Gai Kok told reporters in Juba on Wednesday.
According to Gai, the free testing for Hepatitis C has been launched at the Public Health Laboratory.
The minister encouraged South Sudanese to get tested for hepatitis viruses for early diagnosis and treatment.” If you are found suffering from Hepatitis C, you will be treated for free here in Juba,” he said.
Gai appealed to the general public and health officers to report cases of Hepatitis C to Juba Teaching Hospital. “We want you to appeal to all the health facilities public or private, if there is a confirmed case in any of the facilities let them report to Juba Teaching Hospital,” he said.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV): the virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. Hepatitis C is a major cause of liver cancer.
The most common types of hepatitis are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.