Find the missing millions: examples from around the world
No one should have
to live with viral
hepatitis without
knowing. Yet more
than 290 million men,
women and children
do. Unless there is a
massive scale-up in
screening, diagnosis
and linkage to care,
more people will
become infected and
lives will continue to
be lost.
Through the Find the Missing
Millions campaign, we are
highlighting best practice and
in novations in screening and
testing so that other organisations
Examples from
around the world
can learn and develop their
national activities. Each month
we profile a successful diagnosis
initiative. This month, we’re
highlighting the efforts of WHA
member The National Liver
Foundation of Bangladesh to find
the missing millions with their
screening drive.
Hepatitis screening,
diagnosis and treatment in
Bangladesh
By Prof. Mohammad Ali
Founder, National Liver
Foundation of Bangladesh
“The National Liver Foundation
of Bangladesh used the ‘Find the
Missing Millions’ campaign on
the eve of World Hepatitis Day
to promote testing and diagnosis
among the indigenous people
(Chakma tribe) of the Chittagong
Hill Tracts, Bangladesh.
The Chakmas are the largest
indigenous tribe consisting of
444,748 people. They mostly
live in Rangamati, Chittagong
Hill Tracks. They have their own
language, culture, tradition and
history.
to be tested for a disease they
had no awareness of.
We conducted hepatitis B and C
screenings for 810 people of at
Rangamati Government College
and in the community, diagnosing
42 people (40 with hepatitis B
and 2 with hepatitis C).
others to come forward for
testing. Crucially they reassured
participants that their information
was confidential, as many in
the local community felt that a
positive diagnosis would lead to
discrimination.
The success of the programme
was, in part, due to collaboration
with the local Government health
authority, local doctors and civil
society.
The programme would not have
been possible without the NOhep
activists working with people
to inform them about hepatitis,
the safety of the test itself and
the importance of encouraging
We needed to raise awareness of
hepatitis amongst the community
as we discovered most of the
people had never heard of viral
hepatitis. Local NOhep activists
from our “NOhep Network
Bangladesh” worked to encourage
people to get tested. Although
we were offering free screenings,
many people didn’t see the need
Have you implemented an
innovative screening or diagnosis
project? We want to hear from
you! Complete the Find the Missing
Millions case study submission
form here and email us at
[email protected].
8 hep Voice September 2018
August 2018 9
hep Voice