On November 12 this year, 5141 people received a free hepatitis C antibody test (anti-HCV) as part of the social campaign “Detect. Act!” organized by the Digestive Diseases Association and “Centrālā laboratorija”. A positive test result was identified in 4% of those tested, or 197 individuals, with nearly 70% of cases occurring among people aged 40 to 65.
“The strong public response to testing during the social campaign organised by us and our partners demonstrates that awareness of the importance of preventive healthcare and early diagnosis is steadily growing. Unfortunately, the proportion of positive test results remains relatively high, confirming the need to ensure regular and systematic hepatitis C screening at the national level. Only in this way is it possible to limit and reduce the spread of this dangerous infection in society. Moreover, every identified case of hepatitis C represents an opportunity for a person to begin treatment and regain their health,” says Zane Kaktiņa, Chairwoman of the Board of SIA “Centrālā laboratorija”.
“The number of positive test results confirms that hepatitis C remains a significant public health issue in Latvia, despite the availability of highly effective treatment. Many people are unaware that they are infected, as hepatitis C can remain asymptomatic for years, while at the same time unknowingly contributing to the further spread of the virus. This is precisely why regular testing is essential to reduce the spread of hepatitis C, which remains one of the highest in Europe. We hope that in the near future Latvia, like Lithuania, will introduce state-funded hepatitis C screening for all residents,” says Aleksejs Derovs, Associate Professor at Rīga Stradiņš University, Chair of the Board of the Digestive Diseases Association, gastroenterologist and internist at “Veselības centru apvienība”.
The World Health Organization has called for the elimination of hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. In response, “Centrālā laboratorija” for several years has provided free hepatitis C as well as HIV/AIDS testing to various patient groups, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis in the detection and treatment of these diseases and contributing to the protection of public health.
The social campaign “Detect. Act!” was organised by the Digestive Diseases Association and “Centrālā laboratorija”. The campaign received informational support from the Ministry of Health of Latvia, the Latvian Association of Gastroenterologists and the Latvian Association of Infectologists and Hepatologists.
