During the day, the Hepatology Department of Padilla Hospital, a benchmark in the province and even the region, organized a training session. “All this activity this week is about the prevention, timely treatment and cure of this type of hepatitis,” Ferre said.
The liver quietly performs more than 500 vital functions every day. But viral hepatitis infection is also silent, with symptoms only appearing in the advanced stages of the disease. Although there are several types of hepatitis viruses (A to E), hepatitis B and C are the most worrisome, causing nearly 8,000 new infections every day, most of which go undetected.
In that sense, the official explained, many deaths from hepatitis are preventable. Now that there is an effective vaccine and treatment for hepatitis B, there is even a cure for hepatitis C. “In order to implement treatment, early and timely diagnosis is required, that is, pathological conditions are detected as soon as possible. That is why the Minister of Health ordered free tests of different effectors for the diagnosis of viral hepatitis”, he said.
Infectious disease doctor Claudia Lucena, head of the HIV, STI and viral hepatitis coordination group at the Ministry of Health, said they were in charge of all training and activities this week. “People who want to know their hepatitis status can go to polyclinics, central hospitals and all care centers across the province that have testing for research,” he explained, noting that it’s important to have these tests so they can receive timely treatment if necessary .
Daniela Perez, a liver specialist at Padilla Hospital, stressed that tomorrow there will be a testing campaign in the general population and it will be carried out in the province’s main care centers. They will arrive in Padilla from 9am, where they will take a quick test and get the results in 20 minutes. In addition, advice and counseling will be provided to all participants. Dr. María Dolores Burga, from the Department of Hepatology, said the service provided advice and treatment on a daily basis.
On this occasion, Emma Isabel Coronel, a liver specialist at the National Coordinating Center for Viral Hepatitis at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of viral hepatitis worldwide because they cause many diseases, which is why This week seeks to raise awareness in the community about preventive measures and early detection.
“The World Health Organization has launched a strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, which calls for the activities of every Member. Simplify that coverage,” the professional explained.
Finally, Dr Ana Palazo, from the Department of Hepatology at Padilla Hospital, said the campaigns focused on advocacy and training for those with decision-making power. “These men of public health have been with us for years, but we want this one to be special,” he concluded.