ESCAPE FROM HEPATITIS

World Hepatitis Day is commemorated each year on 28 July to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes a range of health problems, including liver cancer.

There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E. Together, Hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of deaths, with 1.4 million lives lost each year. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, viral hepatitis continues to claim thousands of lives every day.

This year’s theme is “Hepatitis-free future,” with a strong focus on preventing Hepatitis B (HBV) among mothers and newborns. On 28 July, WHO will publish new recommendations on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus. HBV can be prevented among newborns through the use of a safe and effective vaccine.

In 2016, at the 69th World Health Assembly, your government made a commitment to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030, as set out in the WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis. With less than 10 years to go, only a handful of countries are on track to eliminate hepatitis C, and progress towards eliminating hepatitis B is lagging as well.

Undersigned, people living with viral hepatitis and the wider community, call on you to honour your commitment to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.

Viral hepatitis affects 325 million people worldwide and claims 4,000 lives every day, more than malaria and HIV combined. Yet, all the tools to reach elimination exist; we have effective treatments and a vaccine to protect children from hepatitis B infection and an easily administered cure for hepatitis C. Elimination can be  reached with concerted - and properly resourced - action.

Viral hepatitis elimination by 2030 will prevent seven million deaths from hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In all countries, viral hepatitis elimination is a cost-effective  investment with long-term savings to health systems. The global financial outlook should only increase your willingness to invest in hepatitis elimination and benefit from cost saving health outcomes that strengthen health systems and aid preparation for the next health crises.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the importance of decisive political leadership to co-ordinate effective responses from healthcare systems for the community and to provide adequate resources to save lives. Viral hepatitis is no different. Strong political leadership, which works hand-in-hand with the healthcare systems, civil society and the affected community, can drive forward efforts to eliminate hepatitis and save millions of lives.

Numerous countries are scaling-up services to achieve viral hepatitis elimination by 2030, implementing WHO’s regional and global action plans. Yet, despite the available scale-up and killing 1.4 million people every year, the response to viral hepatitis is critically under-funded and widely overlooked by international funders and development partners.




Source: www.nohep.org
               www.who.int

WHO receives first-ever donation of insulin

Fifty low- and middle-income countries are soon to receive insulin for people with diabetes, thanks to a donation by global health-care company, Novo Nordisk. The donation, of insulin and glucagon^[1], to the value of US$ 1.3 million, comes at a time when many people with noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes are facing challenges with access to life-saving treatment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“For many people living with diabetes these are difficult times,” said Professor Andrew Boulton, President of the International Diabetes Federation. “They are both vulnerable to the severe effects of COVID-19 and struggling with day-to-day problems managing their diabetes, such as disrupted access to medication, equipment and health care. Initiatives to secure the supply of essential diabetes medicines, and of insulin in particular, are very welcome.” 

“We are very grateful for this timely donation of insulin,” said Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO. “It is the first donation of a medicine for a noncommunicable disease to WHO and it comes at a critical point.“ 

The selection of countries to receive this donation was based on their income group and information provided to WHO by ministries of health on the capacity of their health systems to manage storage and supply at a time when transport systems have been disrupted and health-care systems are stretched. 

In order to meet the long-term needs of people with diabetes, however, a sustainable supply of insulin, provided at prices that countries can afford, is needed. 

“We must not forget that as we approach the centenary of the discovery of insulin many people globally still face multiple hurdles in accessing insulin on a daily basis in normal circumstances,” said Dr Kaushik Ramaiya, Chair of the International Insulin Foundation. 

The donation comes several months after the inclusion of insulin in WHO’s prequalification programme, which accelerates and increases access to critical medical products that are quality-assured, affordable and adapted for markets in low- and middle-income countries. 

The effort to ensure a regular, affordable supply of insulin is just one of a number of strategies implemented by WHO to improve treatment of diabetes. In April, the Organization launched updated guidance on diagnosis, classification and management of type 2 diabetes intended for all those involved in planning and delivery of diabetes care. WHO also works with countries to promote healthy diets and physical activity to lower people’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Countries are addressing diabetes as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, committing to cut premature death from diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases by one third by 2030.

Source: www.who.int

IVERMECTIN SLASHES CORONAVIRUS VIRAL LOAD IN VITRO

Australian scientists have published research indicating that ivermectin, an approved anti-parasitic drug that is available worldwide, is highly effective against the Covid-19 virus when applied to an infected cell culture. The coronavirus pandemic has infected more than a million people worldwide and caused over 50,000 deaths.
At present there is no vaccine nor treatment for the condition.

The collaborative study led by Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) with the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity showed that ivermectin reduced Covid-19 viral RNA present in the cell culture by 93% after 24 hours and by 99.8% after 48 hours - around a 5,000-fold reduction in coronavirus RNA, indicating that the ivermectin treatment was leading to the loss of "essentially all viral material".
Dr Kylie Wagstaff from the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, said ""We found that even a single dose could essentially remove all viral RNA by 48 hours and that even at 24 hours there was a really significant reduction in it."
Dr Wagstaff cautioned that the tests were carried out in vitro and trials would need to be carried out in people to see if the drug was truly effective against Covid-19.
Effective anti-viral could be key in the fight against Covid-19

The paper says that development of an effective anti-viral for the coronavirus, if given to patients early on in their infection could limit their viral load, stop the disease progressing and prevent transmission. They believe that ivermectin could be a useful antiviral in the fight against Covid-19.
Ivermectin is also being studied as a potential treatment for a number of other viruses, including dengue fever, HIV and Zika. It is on the World Health Organisation's list of essential medicines for the treatment of parasite infections, including head lice, scabies, river blindness, threadworm and whipworm, among others.

Source: as.com

Coronavirus Anxiety: Worry, Fear, and How Not to Panic

The newest form of coronavirus, COVID-19, is causing a pandemic of fear to spread across the globe. There’s even a name for the fear: coronavirus anxiety. Here’s what you need to know to remain healthy, both mentally and physically.

Why Are People So Anxious about Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Two types of anxiety are at work around COVID-19: health anxiety and fear of the unknown. These are common forms of anxiety that, when they occur together, can be debilitating and cause panic.
Health anxiety involves excessive fear, worries, and what-ifs about illness that consume time and attention. The more someone thinks about health-related anxieties, the more stuck in these fears they become. In the case of coronavirus, it has become hard to think of other things. Everywhere we turn, we hear reports (some factual and some fear-based rumor) that people are getting sick and dying.
These emotional reports are fueling fear of the unknown. This is a new strain of coronavirus (a coronavirus is simply a type of virus, responsible for strains of the common cold and more serious illnesses such as SARS). Because it’s new, doctors and scientists don’t know everything about it. Anxiety loves to step in with anything unknown and fill in the blanks with assumptions rather than fact. When left unchecked, they consume us.

How to Deal with Coronavirus Anxiety?

Reduce coronavirus anxiety and stay well with these tips:

*Keep your perspective. Rumors that society is shutting down because of coronavirus are just that—fear-based speculation. Remember that this gossip is fueled by health anxiety and fear of the unknown, and let your own knowledge override the rumors you hear.

*Do what you always do to stay healthy. Wash your hands often. Keep surfaces clean. Stay away from crowds when you can. Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious foods to boost your immune system.

*Don’t let empty store shelves fuel your own fear*. People are panicking because of exaggerated news reports,social media posts, and uninformed buzz. Use bleach, vinegar, baking soda, and other basic supplies you likely already have at home to sanitize like you do in any cold and flu season.

The COVID-19 threat is something to be taken seriously, but when you remember that the panic is fueled by fear of the unknown and health anxiety, you can pause, regain your perspective, and do what is in your control to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy.

MENTAL ILLNESS, IT IS WITH US




Source: Unknown

GHANA CONFIRMED 2 COVID-19 CASES

The global number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has surpassed 100,000. Before 12th March 2020, there was no confirmed case in Ghana, although some countries in the sub region (Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal) with strong cultural and economic ties to Ghana had confirmed cases. Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminded all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the implementation of robust containment and control activities.

Ghana has confirmed two cases of COVID-19 later on Thursday March 12, 2020, being the first cases to be reported in the country.

The Minister for Health disclosed in a press statement that the two confirmed cases were received at the same time from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

Read full statement from the Health Ministry below:

WHO statement on cases of COVID-19 surpassing 100 000

The global number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has surpassed 100 000. As we mark this sombre moment, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminds all countries and communities that the spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the implementation of robust containment and control activities.

China and other countries are demonstrating that spread of the virus can be slowed and impact reduced through the use of universally applicable actions, such as working across society to identify people who are sick, bringing them to care, following up on contacts, preparing hospitals and clinics to manage a surge in patients, and training health workers.

WHO calls on all countries to continue efforts that have been effective in limiting the number of cases and slowing the spread of the virus.

Every effort to contain the virus and slow the spread saves lives. These efforts give health systems and all of society much needed time to prepare, and researchers more time to identify effective treatments and develop vaccines.

Allowing uncontrolled spread should not be a choice of any government, as it will harm not only the citizens of that country but affect other countries as well.

We must stop, contain, control, delay and reduce the impact of this virus at every opportunity. Every person has the capacity to contribute, to protect themselves, to protect others, whether in the home, the community, the healthcare system, the workplace or the transport system.

Leaders at all levels and in all walks of life must step forward to bring about this commitment across society.

WHO will continue to work with all countries, our partners and expert networks to coordinate the international response, develop guidance, distribute supplies, share knowledge and provide people with the information they need to protect themselves and others.

Ghana Investivating the Death of a Coronavirus Case

Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Badu Sarkodie has revealed that one person who showed symptoms of the deadly coronavirus died in Kumasi over the weekend, though he tested negative for the Covid-19 test.

The deceased according to Dr Badu Sarkodie, arrived in Ghana from Germany and reported of a condition that mimicked the Covid-19; but an emergency test on him proved that he was free of the virus. He, however, died later at the hospital.

The revelation is curious because, at least 129 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Germany, with the number of cases doubling yesterday.

More than half of the cases are in North Rhine-Westphalia, which counts Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Dortmund as its biggest cities; there are large Ghanaian communities in all these cities.

Dr Badu Sarkodie, however, could not readily tell what killed the person but said the Ghana Health Service is still investigating the matter with the aid of the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research; this is the first death in the 26 suspected cases of the deadly disease that have proven negative in Ghana since the outbreak.

This comes on the back of pressure group, OccupyGhana’s seven-point recommendation that could help Ghana position itself to counter the outbreak of the virus.

In planning for a possible COVID-19 outbreak, OccupyGhana has suggested that Ghana considers the following variables:1 – Surveillance;2 – Containment; 3 – Prevention; 4 – Testing; 5 – Treatment; 6 – Coordination; and 7 – Finance.

But Dr Badu Sarkodie says the country’s points of entry are under constant surveillance to curb the infiltration of the disease; he spoke with Kwame Sefa Kayi on Peace FM on Monday morning.



Source: www.ghanaweb.com