Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), handed over on Monday WHO certification to President of Egypt ,Abdel Fattah El Sisi for country’s succes against Hepatitis C.
With this recognition by the WHO, Egypt has become the first country in the world to receive a certificate from the WHO for progress against the C virus.
This impressive accomplishment was made through the grand presidential initiative called 100 Million Health and the use of Egyptian medicines.
While holding a press conference, the WHO chief with Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar at Ittihadia Palace following a meeting with President Sisi, announced this achievement of Egypt.
The WHO Director-General congratulated Egypt for this unique achievement in eliminating Hepatitis C.
The Director General of WHO also added that Egypt had become the first country in the world to get the “Gold Tier” status on the journey to eliminate of Hepatitis C virus.
The WHO Director-General reaffirmed that this success would not have been accomplished without the full commitment that he has personally noted by President El-Sisi efforts against this disease.
Dr Adhanom stated that this was evident as the President himself was monitoring the progress of the programme for sound planning and serious work carried out by the health ministry in Egypt in this regard.
President of Egypt Sisi thanked the World Health Organization and its Director-General for their unconditional support to Egypt, expressing his pleasure with the progress in the health of Egyptian citizens in relation to this deadly disease of hepatitis C, which has long been a chronic crisis in Egyptian health.
President also mentioned that the state had dedicated all the means to eliminate Hepatitis C, such as establishing treatment centres, providing the required diagnostic methods, preparing cadres, and providing full support to Egyptian drug industry, which was able to provide millions of doses of drugs, as well as the care of patients with symptoms of the disease and providing them with the highest levels of medical care.
The meeting also discussed the prospects for cooperation between Egypt and the WHO in many areas, such as strengthening the Egypt government’s efforts to support the public health system in the country, especially through the related presidential initiatives under the umbrella of the 100 Million Health mission, and developing these initiatives in various health sectors, to meet the requirement of millions of citizens across Egypt.
During the press conference, The WHO director said Egypt registered the highest rate of Hepatitis C infections worldwide just a decade ago. But now, the country has recorded the lowest level of the dangerous virus infection, which can cause serious diseases such as cancer in case of failure to treat it in the beginning stage.
He said Egypt offered treatment to almost 93 percent of those infected with hepatitis C through the 100 million health initiative mission ,pointing out that Egypt introduced important measures to get rid of the Hepatitis.
He also said that in the past year, Egypt successfully managed to get rid of German measles, known as rubella, hailing Egypt’s efforts to eradicate all kinds of diseases.