The purpose of the campaign is to remind Rwandans to test for ‘Hepatitis C’.
Figures show that 5% of Rwandans have the infection. It is acquired through unprotected sex, blood, bodily fluids and children born to infected parents are more likely to acquire it as well.
Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba said that every Rwandan is encouraged to test in order to know their status.
“Testing is important because hepatitis C is a treatable infection. If today the government of Rwanda is investing in the capacity with its stakeholders to reduce the cost of drugs, Rwandans should know their status and so we can get enough drugs to treat them all and prevent new hepatitis C prevalence,” she said.
“In five years, about 5 million Rwandans should be tested, but can’t we do so in one month? Our citizens are willing and we have partners, the government is willing to provide all the necessary requirements to eradicate this infection before five years,” she added.
In 2016, the Government of Rwanda agreed with Gilead Industry, an American pharmaceutical company, to reduce the cost of Hepatitis C drugs. The current price has reduced from 95,000 USD to 1200 USD.
Due to the high cost of the drugs, the government of Rwanda has continued to support, so that the patient cannot pay more than $100 and recover in three months.
Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) Director General, Dr. Jeanine Condo, said that until now there are no figures of Rwandans killed by Hepatitis C. But they want to take tough measures to stop it.
To date, Hepatitis B has a vaccine, and people are required to be vaccinated against it, because when one acquires it, they have to be on treatment throughout their whole life. Hepatitis C has no vaccine but can be cured.
The Ministry of Health in Rwanda reports that if 100 people with Hepatitis C were to be treated, 91 would recover.
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