Ceasing the spread of hepatitis C
The article explains hepatitis, its types, and global prevalence, focusing on hepatitis C's spread and the availability of effective treatments since 2017. It details Malaysia's commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030, despite facing significant challenges such as limited public awareness and healthcare access.
Why it matters
It highlights a major global public health issue, the progress made in treating hepatitis C, and the ongoing challenges in achieving disease elimination goals, particularly in countries like Malaysia.
The liver, which is one of the largest organs in the body, has myriad functions.
These include storage of nutrients; production of bile, which digests fats and removes waste products; removal of waste products and degenerated cells from the blood; filtering and processing of chemicals in food, medicines and alcohol, etc.
Hepatitis is a term for inflammation in the liver.
When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its functions can be impaired.
Having said that, the liver is an organ that has marked powers of regeneration.
The multiple causes of hepatitis include medical conditions like autoimmune diseases, toxins, certain medicines, heavy alcohol consumption and viral infections.
Viral hepatitis, of which there are five types (A, B, C, D and E), is a significant public health problem globally.
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