NOhep News: March 2020
Welcome to your round-up of everything happening in the NOhep world! If you want to receive future editions of NOhep news, sign up to our movement here.
This month we have a fantastic Supporter Spotlight from one of the doctors who is leading Egypt’s ambitious programme to treat one million African hepatitis C patients. Read on to find out more about Dr Alboraie’s inspirational work.
We also bring you exciting celebrity news from North Macedonia, and an update from Great Lakes Peace Center in Uganda.
You can also read a snapshot of stories from around the world which show the positive steps countries are taking towards NOhep; this month we have updates from the USA, Italy and the UK. If you’d like your NOhep activities featured in NOhep News, or you’re interested in being our next Supporter Spotlight, please get in touch at connect@nohep.org.
Supporter Spotlight: Dr Alboraie
Dr Mohamed Alboraie was driven to work in the field of viral hepatitis because he saw so many people dying from complications related to hepatitis C. Now, he is the Executive Director of the Egyptian Presidential Initiative for the treatment of one million hepatitis C patients in Africa, and is supporting medical professionals in other African nations to diagnose and treat patients.
Find out more about Dr Alboraie’s work and motivation for eliminating hepatitis here.
NOhep Community Activity
Uganda
Great Lakes Peace Center visited Bwera General Hospital in Western Uganda to speak with health workers, share experiences, and build capacity among staff to respond to viral hepatitis in the community. They made sure to share the NOhep message during the meeting, and it is great to know that the healthcare professionals they met with will be equipped with the knowledge to make a real difference in their communities.
Find out more about Great Lakes Peace Center on their website.
North Macedonia
Renowned pop/R’n’B singer and songwriter Elena Risteska has joined Hepar Centar-Bitola in the fight for NOhep in North Macedonia!
With over 100,000 followers on Instagram, we’re sure Elena’s support of NOhep will help raise awareness of our movement.
Articles and stories
USA recommends testing most adults for hepatitis C
New guidelines released by the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommend that most adults in the USA be screened for hepatitis C. The new guidelines have been drafted in response to a sharp increase in hepatitis C infections, and recommend that all adults aged 18-79 are screened for the virus.
This is a big step forward, and we hope it will accelerate elimination in the USA! Read more about the guidelines here.
Italy earmarks €71.5 million for free hepatitis C screening
The Italian government has allocated 71.5 million euros over two years from 2020-2021 to introduce free hepatitis C screening for people who may be at increased risk of infection, including people who use drugs and people in prison. It’s great to see Italy invest in hepatitis services, and we hope to see other countries follow suit!
First clinical trial of computer algorithm leads to increase in hepatitis diagnoses
Doctors in the UK have given their approval to an electronic hepatitis C testing initiative, which uses an algorithm to flag patients potentially at risk of the disease so that they can be offered testing.
The Hepatitis C Assessment to Treatment Trial (HepCATT) is the first UK clinical trial of a scheme which shows an increase in the identification and treatment of hepatitis C in patients in primary care. Knowledge and awareness of viral hepatitis among GPs participating in the scheme has also increased – win-win for NOhep!