World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Maldives Dr. Arvind Mathur recommended providing opportunity to people for knowing their individual Hepatitis status so that, appropriate treatment would be provided to those infected. The WHO Representative to Maldives made the recommendation in his message on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day. The theme for the 7th Hepatitis Day is "Eliminate Hepatitis."
With available tools at hand, efforts towards addressing viral hepatitis in a holistic manner and with a public health approach need to be enhanced, noted Dr. Arvind Mathur. He urged some key actions to be implemented, with the goal of ending viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 as outlined in Regional Action Plan.
That includes sustaining high coverage of Hepatitis B vaccine with the regular 2-3 doses of the same vaccine per national guidelines, investing in Reuse Prevention syringes (RUP) and Injection safety. Continuing to screen each donated blood or product for hepatitis B and C, continuing the collaboration to ensure safe drinking water and effective sanitation at every community, and finally providing opportunity to people for knowing their individual Hepatitis status so that appropriate treatment would be provided to those infected.
Maldives many of these recommended actions are already in place though there is a need for enforcement and compliance with focus on quality, he said. Opportunity to add momentum to all ongoing efforts in the Maldives, Dr. Mathur noted.
It may be useful to emphasize the importance of developing a country specific action plan targeting Elimination of Hepatitis as has been outlined in WHO's first Global Health Sector Strategy for 2016-2021 and included as a target in Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, Dr. Mathur noted.
As WHO Representative, Dr. Mathur extended his highest commitment and full support a to the Government of the Maldives, policy makers, health workers and people in taking forward our collaborative actions for realizing the vision of eliminating Hepatitis. He expressed that Maldives is a forerunner in eliminating diseases such as Malaria, Filariasis and Measles and expressed optimism that with highest political commitment and people's actions, it would strive towards Hepatitis Elimination too.