Amman - The Jordan Center for Diseases Control (JCDC) commemorated World Hepatitis Day on Sunday, an annual event aimed at raising awareness about viral hepatitis, a disease that affects the liver and can lead to severe conditions such as liver cancer.
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Dr. Adel Belbisi, head of the center, emphasized this year's theme, "Time to Act", stressing the need to enhance accessibility to comprehensive screening and treatment services globally. He highlighted the staggering statistic that one death occurs every 30 seconds worldwide due to hepatitis-related illnesses, underscoring the urgency to accelerate efforts in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to save lives and improve health outcomes.
Belbisi noted that despite challenges, the World Health Organization's goal to eliminate hepatitis by 2030 remains achievable with prompt action. He emphasized the liver's critical role in daily bodily functions and stressed the importance of early and regular screenings.
He explained that hepatitis can result from viral infections or non-infectious factors like drugs, toxins, and alcohol, with five main virus strains (A, B, C, D, E) differing in transmission methods, disease severity, geographic distribution, and prevention and treatment approaches.
Highlighting the scale of new infections, Belbisi mentioned that over 6,000 people contract hepatitis daily, often without symptoms until the disease progresses to advanced stages. Key symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, and jaundice.
The introduction of hepatitis B and A vaccines in Jordan's national immunization program in 1995 has significantly reduced infection risks, particularly among infants and healthcare workers in hospitals.
Belbisi reaffirmed JCDC's commitment to prioritizing risk assessments for pathogens, both biological and global epidemiological concerns. He emphasized collaborative efforts in developing comprehensive strategies and plans to address communicable and non-communicable diseases, ensuring preparedness against health emergencies and epidemics.
Efforts are currently underway to update Jordan's national strategy for hepatitis prevention and control, originally drafted in 2010 in collaboration with national stakeholders and health experts.
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