Radović: Simplifying testing procedures for Hepatitis B and C

In Montenegro, it is necessary to invest more funds and strengthen services, in order to make the public aware of the need for prevention, the importance of early detection and treatment of Hepatitis B and C, as well as to simplify testing procedures, announced the non-governmental organization (NGO) Juventas.

The Coordinator of the Direct Assistance Program at Juventas, Marija Radović, on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, said that, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 325 million people in the world are infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses, of which about 1,3 die annually ,XNUMX million people, "which is an alarming figure".

She pointed out that viral Hepatitis B and C are infections that are largely present in Montenegro, stating that they particularly affect certain categories of the population, such as people who use injecting drugs.

"Through the work of the Juventas Drop in Center, for people who use drugs by injecting, in the first half of this year, we provided services to 348 people and carried out preventive activities in the form of information about hepatitis, and we also provided help and referred users to testing and treatment" , stated Radović.

In Montenegro, as she said, there is no accurate record of the number of people infected with Hepatitis C, however, as she clarified, there is a well-founded estimate that more than 50 percent of people who inject drugs are carriers of that virus.

"According to research data, conducted by the Institute for Public Health in cooperation with Juventas in 2014, among people who use drugs, 53 percent of them were infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV)," said Radović.

According to her, since 2004, Juventas has been continuously carrying out activities at the Institute for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (ZIKS), and, as she said, there are a large number of people who are at risk of infection with Hepatitis B and C viruses.

"According to the data from ZIKS, which we received in March of this year, 12 people, serving their sentence, are infected with the Hepatitis C virus, and two people with the Hepatitis B virus. In addition to those registered, there is a large number of those who have not been tested and are carriers of the virus. , so it is important to support preventive programs within this institution and enable timely testing and treatment while serving the prison sentence," explained Radović.

She pointed out that it is positive that in Montenegro therapy for viral hepatitis is free.

"Nevertheless, the question arises as to whether therapy is available to everyone, because in practice it happens that patients wait for therapy in order to get involved in treatment. Also, we do not keep up with the world when it comes to therapy, which in our country is still based on interferon, which has been surpassed in many countries and which often does not give good enough results, and the treatment is long and demanding for patients," explained Radović.

With the new, modern therapy, which, as she explained, involves taking one pill a day for 12 weeks, 98 to 100 percent of patients are cured.

"It is important to think about changing the practice related to HCV testing, for which in our country it is necessary to take a referral from a chosen doctor, while in many countries there is already a simplified procedure and testing can be done, anonymously, voluntarily, as well as HIV testing, without "This practice is also present in Croatia and has proven to be effective," Radović pointed out.

She pointed out that there is a vaccine for Hepatitis B and that it is important to vaccinate everyone who is at risk.

According to her, since last year, as she said, the Ministry of Health has, to a certain extent, supported preventive programs aimed at categories of the population, which are at the greatest risk, when it comes to hepatitis B, C and HIV.

"However, much larger funds and the strengthening of these services are needed in order to achieve the best possible results and to inform the entire public of the need for prevention, the importance of early detection and treatment of these infections. Public health interventions in relation to hepatitis B and C need to be more clearly and effectively integrated with those associated with HIV infection", Radović believes.

As she stated, the importance of eliminating hepatitis is recognized by the Global Health Strategy on Viral Hepatitis from 2016-2021, whose goal is to eliminate infections and deaths from hepatitis B and C by 2030.

"In order to respond to the challenges, it is necessary to draw up the Montenegrin National Strategy in this area. It is necessary to direct as much resources and energy as possible to prevention and early detection and treatment," said Radović.

As she said, viral hepatitis B and C are transmitted through blood.

"Hepatitis C can also be transmitted sexually, but there is a lower risk. All those who think they are at risk should definitely be tested, which is of the greatest importance in order to know their status," said Radović.