Hepatitis Awareness Day in Jeddah
King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah represented by Public Health Section-Preventive Medicine and Infection Control Department in cooperation with the Ministry of Health organizing the activities of Hepatitis Awareness Day which aims at educating patients and their companions about the types of hepatitis A-B-C-D-E and methods of prevention and treatment through holding an awareness exhibition at the Outpatient Center as well as a medical symposium held today, Sunday for the third consecutive year, under the title of " Viral Hepatitis Updates 2017 " which is accredited with 8CME hours by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS). In addition, a large number of gastroenterology, liver diseases, infectious diseases and public health consultants in King Abdulaziz Medical City-Jeddah participate, where they discuss many topics related to educating health practitioners about hepatitis.
Moreover, the Head of Scientific Committee, Deputy Executive Director of Preventive Medicine and Infection Control Department, Consultant of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Asem ALsaedi, said that this world day aims to raise awareness among the community members regarding the prevalence of hepatitis, its causes, complications and prevention methods. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1.4 million people worldwide die each year due to hepatitis complications. Also, he mentioned that the risk of hepatitis diseases is that many patients may be infected with the virus without any symptoms, posing a risk of transmission to other healthy people. In addition, Preventive Medicine and Infection Control Department has taken strategic measures to combat liver viruses through several programs such as the comprehensive immunization program for the Ministry of National Guard’s employees, early detection program of viruses for people who are most vulnerable to contact with the infected patients, in addition to holding training programs for the prevention of communicable diseases and health awareness campaigns for educating patients and community members in general.
Also, Public Health Consultant at the Preventive Medicine and Infection Control Department, Dr. Faisal Farhat said that viral liver diseases are a burden on the health organizations, both in terms of patients number infected or its complications which increase the health care costs and require efforts related to control and prevention of which include a comprehensive immunization program, effective health awareness, safe health care as well as encouraging screening, early diagnosis and providing viral liver treatment. Moreover, scientific research and epidemiological surveillance programs are the cornerstone of problem identification and assessment. Within the framework of this integration, distinct results can be achieved to eliminate liver viruses that affect the productivity of infected people and are a threat to public health.
It is worth mentioning that this international day is accompanied by an educational and awareness exhibition in which several departments participate, including Pharmacy, Laboratory, Nutrition and Adults Vaccination Clinic.