hepVoice Vol 31 December 2018 | Page 4

Hep Headlines headlines hep Hepatitis is regularly making the news thanks to the efforts of WHA members. Here are a few highlights. Gavi Prioritises Hepatitis B Birth Dose Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has approved an investment in the hepatitis B birth dose vaccination as part of its Vaccine Investment Strategy. One of six new and expanded vaccine programmes, the hepatitis B birth dose will prevent chronic cases of hepatitis B infection, which develops in up to 90% of infants infected with HBV at birth or in the first year of life. Gavi’s Board made the decision to prioritise the hepatitis B birth dose during a two-day meeting to shape the organisation’s strategic approach for the period 2021- 2025. Read more at ww.gavi.org/library/ news/press-releases/2018/gavi- board-starts-framing-alliance-s- approach-to-2021-2025-period/ 4 hep Voice December 2018 AASLD Strengthens its Relationship with Patient Groups The Liver Meeting 2018, held in San Fransico in November, saw the leadership of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) host a patient advocacy meeting to explore ways in which AASLD can work closer with patient organisations. WHA President, Michael Ninburg, and Executive Board Member, Dr. Su Wang, spoke at the meeting about how WHA has coordinated patient and medical profesional interaction through advocacy work. Read more about the issues raised by patient advocates at the meeting and the agreed next steps: www.aasldnews.org/aasld- deepens-its-relationship-with- patient-groups/ Hepatitis C Re-infection Rate Low in People with High-risk Behavior The results of a large population- based study in Canada have shown that the overall number of people re-infected with hepatitis C after effective treatment with direct- acting agents (DAAs) was low. The study therefore provides further evidence in support of offering high-risk populations widespread treatment. Naveed Janjua, PhD, a senior scientist with the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control said that delivering treatment quickly to people with hepatitis C who display high-risk behaviour was essential to reducing the passing on of hepatitis C to others and to eliminating the disease. Janjua also commented that unlike with Interferon, side effects are rare with DAAs and compliance with long-term treatment programmes is not an issue. Read more at www. medpagetoday.com/reading- room/aga/lower-gi/76361?fbclid= IwAR2ayQd41JBg8M0WSAq0pVm PcNajhYf- Hepatitis B Prevalence Rate drops in Uganda Uganda’s State minister for Primary Health Care, Dr Joyce Moriku Kaducu, has announced that there has been almost a 6 per cent drop in hepatitis B prevalence in the country, where more than four million Ugandans are living with the disease. The decline from 10.3 per cent to 4.5 per cent prevalence is attributed to a large-scale Participating in a hepatitis related activity or have an event planned? Email us or contact us on social media. vaccination and treatment programme against the disease. Read more at www.monitor. co.ug/News/National/ Hepatitis-B-prevalence-rate- drops/688334-4836884- f0au5/index.html Hepatitis C Cure, Sofosbuvir, Turns 5 Years Old People living with hepatitis C, access to medicines activists, and the medical community around the world are “marking” the fifth birthday of the first all-oral, one dose per day cure sofosbuvir (Sovaldi®), launched by Gilead Sciences in 2013. A global hepatitis C coalition has released a fact sheet revealing treatment barriers that have resulted in only 1.85 million of the 71 million people worldwide who need treatment, receiving the sofosbuvir-based drugs, largely due to pricing, patents and registration delays. Read more about the campaign at http://www. treatmentactiongroup.org/ content/hepatitis-cure- sofosbuvir-turns-5-majority- people-still-not-treated dates for the diary Upcoming events and activities taking place in the coming months. 28-30 january 2019 HepHIV Conference, Bucharest THepHIV aims to provide an overview of innovative initiatives and best practices on optimal testing and earlier care for HIV and viral hepatitis from different settings across Europe, including progress and challenges in the integration of service, sustain and fuel the political discussion of testing policies, increase political commitment and public awareness by discussing how to translate global and regional goals, objectives and targets into local implementation plans, and provide opportunities for multi- stakeholder dialogue to develop creative solutions to unresolved challenges in research and implementation of HIV and viral hepatitis, TB and STI policies and programmes to improve early diagnosis and care. 4 february 2019 World Cancer Day Each year on 4 February, World Cancer Day empowers all of us across the world to show support, raise our collective voice, take personal action and pressure our governments to do more. World Cancer Day is the only day on the global health calendar where we can all unite and rally under one banner in a positive and inspiring way. hep Voice November 2018 5