DILI, 28 july 2022 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Health (MoH), through the National Unit of the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and Transmissible Diseases will consolidate its Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan to combat hepatitis B and C in the Timor-Leste.
National Unit Chief of the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Bernardino da Cruz revealed that consolidating the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan and Integrated National Strategic Plan for Combating HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and Transmissible Diseases is important to reduce and prevent transmission of this three disease, particularly to prevent/reduce mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B and C virus in the country.
He said hepatitis case is rising nationally, saying, therefore, the Minister of Health will focus its efforts on the prevention of the mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B and C virus.
Cruz said Timor-Leste has so far registered thousands of hepatitis cases in the country: “In 2020, we registered 966 cases. However, due to Covid-19, we only registered 227 cases in 2022. However, the actual number is probably higher than these given fewer efforts have done currently.
Babies born to a mother with hepatitis B have a greater than 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B if they are not properly treated at birth, said Hepatitis B Foundation.
“We know that many mothers across the county have hepatitis and these mothers deserve better treatment. So, having proper treatment will help to prevent the transmission of the hepatitis virus from mother to child,” Cruz told TATOLI at his office in Lahane, Dili.
He said the Ministry of Health had recently put hepatitis under the control of his Unit: “We will work on developing guidelines for testing and treatment the pregnant mothers at all health care centers and clinics. The pregnant mothers will be offered a blood test for 3 infectious diseases at the same time – hepatitis B, HIV, and sexually transmitted diseases. This will be included in our guidelines which will be part of routine antenatal screening.
He highlighted that Ministry of Health will also put efforts to protect the other vulnerable groups and key populations who are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases.
“According to our survey, we have more than 12.000 key populations who are at risk of catching these diseases. Thus, our strategic plan is to focus on testing these three diseases among the key populations, to ensure better treatment for vulnerable groups. Among these key populations, around 5 percent have hepatitis. For instance, those who engage in same-sex relationships, sex workers, and so on,” he said.
He added to combat viral hepatitis in the country, MoH will cooperate with WHO and other partners to carry out capacity building and training for health professionals in the near future to implement Timor-Leste’s Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program.
Cruz said his Unit will collaborate with the National Hospital Guido Valadares (HNGV), and the National Health Laboratory (NHL) on the implementation of the Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program.
“We will also cooperate with SAMES and Pharmacy department for the procurement of the hepatitis test kits and medicines for the treatment of hepatitis B and C.”
He concluded that during the celebration of World Hepatitis Day to take place on july 28, the Ministry of Health through the National Unit of the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and transmissible diseases will organize walk a talking activity to raise awareness of the public on the prevention and control of hepatitis in the country and carry out official launching of two programmatic documents.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
