Thursday, May 02, 2013
Dubai: In the UAE several patients with Hepatitis C turn to charities for treatment,a senior Emirati doctor said during a ceremony recognising the aid rendered.
Most of the patients are from low income groups, who cannot afford the cost of the anti-viral treatment, which according to the doctor, can climb higher than Dh48,000 per year.
More than 25 charities and support groups were recognised for shouldering the financial burden of patients with Hepatitis C during the event.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Hepatitis C as a contagious liver disease. Sharing infected items such as razors and nail grooming instruments is a leading risk factor for Hepatitis C. Those who are chronically infected are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis and/or liver cancer.
A 2012 study conducted the Emirates Gastroenterology and Hepatology Society (EGHS) estimates the prevalence among UAE residents is 4.8 per cent.
Dr Salem Awadh, consultant gastroenterologist and former president of the Emirates Gastroenterology Society, Abu Dhabi, told Gulf News, that insurance companies do not cover the condition.
Several charities in the UAE, including the Red Crescent, Zakat Fund, Dar Al Ber Society and RAK Charity have stepped in to help these individuals, he said.
Dr Awadh, also a guest chairman, said, “We believe Hepatitis C can be cured and we help those diagnosed with the disease contact charity organisations for treatment. More than 300 patients at an Abu Dhabi hostpial have been treated through charities.”
Abdullah Ali Saleh, a representative from the Red Crescent branch in Sharjah, told Gulf News, “Every month we receive 10 new cases on an average in Sharjah.”
Egyptian patient Hisham Tabana, whose treatment was sponsored by four charities including Red Crescent and Dar Al Ber Society, added that he got the infection from a used razor at a salon in Egypt. “It took 48 weeks of treatment,” he said. The event was organised by pharmaceutical company MSD, which estimates that there are more than 96,000 infected cases in the UAE.
The region’s first Hepatitis C National Awareness Campaign was launched in December 2012 by the EGHS, urging UAE residents to be screened for Hepatitis C.
By Carolina DSouza Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
