This Wednesday 28th July marks the international day against hepatitis. Unlike any other screening done before, the Collectif Urgence Toxida (CUT) and NGO AILES (Aide-Infos-Liberté-Espoir- Solidarité) are offering a screening day. So as from 6 am in the morning, the teams of these associations are present near the Eau Coulée Police Station in Curepipe as well as near the Stanley Police Station at Quatre Bornes. Specifically, during the distribution of methadone treatment.
Since associations are campaigning for the distribution of methadone to no longer take place in police stations but in a medicalized environment such as hospitals or dispensaries, the fact of offering hepatitis C screening next to police stations is thus an action imbued with meaning for them. And in the afternoon as from 4 p.m, the teams will be present in La Valette to raise awareness of the risks of transmission of the disease. More so, to explain the care for the treatment of hepatitis C and they will offer free screening which will be done in strictly confidentiality.
Good to know
Mostly often caused by a viral infection, there are different forms of hepatitis. It can also result from overconsumption of alcohol or certain medications as well as from overweight. Hepatitis C (VHC) is a virus that is transmitted mainly through the blood and damages the liver. And it can live in the open for more than 7 days. Hepatitis is transmitted mainly through the blood. For example, by injections with contaminated syringes or injection materials. Hence the importance of the needle exchange program but also when carrying out tattoos or piercings made with non-sterile material. Fortunately, there exists a treatment and it consists of taking antiviral drugs for a period of 3 months as a trial to eliminate the virus. After the 3 months, a viral load should be taken to determine if the virus is undetectable and therefore non-transmissible. The treatment is 95% reliable. The two NGOs Ailes and CUT also wish to welcome the changes made at the level of the Ministry of Health which have recently improved the care of patients and facilitate their access to treatment. Namely with the opening of a unit dedicated to hepatitis C at Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital.
Watch-out the symptoms
Symptoms of hepatitis are jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite and pale stools. Most people do not know ignore it and 9 out of 10 people live with viral hepatitis without knowing it, which is why screening is a must.
