The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified Bangladesh as one of the 10 countries carrying the world’s highest hepatitis C burden, urging intensified efforts to expand prevention, testing and treatment services nationwide.

The appeal was made in a statement issued on Tuesday to commemorate this year’s World Hepatitis Day, with the global health agency warning that millions of people in Bangladesh continue to experience difficulties accessing hepatitis-related healthcare despite the disease being preventable and, in the case of hepatitis C, curable.

According to WHO, delayed diagnosis and limited access to timely testing and treatment remain significant barriers to reducing the country’s hepatitis burden.

“Hepatitis is preventable, treatable and, in the case of hepatitis C, curable. Yet too many people continue to miss out on the services they need because they are diagnosed too late or cannot access timely testing and treatment,” Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, said.

Mohamed also called for urgent action to eliminate obstacles preventing people from obtaining life-saving hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment services.

WHO further urged government authorities and other stakeholders to strengthen efforts to widen access to hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment across Bangladesh as part of measures to reduce the disease burden and improve health outcomes.

Source: Peoples Gazette