Preventable hepatitis C related deaths continue to occur as the World Health Organisation (WHO) maintains silence on the hepatitis C epidemic.

the leading international authority on health, in response to viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis C (HCV), despite the resolution adopted in 2010 by the 63rd World Health Assembly (WHA) on Viral Hepatitis.

The Resolution, as adopted by all member states, recognises viral hepatitis is a serious global public health threat as demonstrated by high morbidity rates and the absence of diagnosis and treatment. It also notes that the lack of access to affordable treatment is a major barrier to the prevention and control of viral hepatitis in developing countries.
The Assembly specifically requested and entrusted the Executive Director of the WHO to address viral hepatitis globally and to establish necessary guidelines, strategies, time-bound goals and tools for the surveillance, prevention and control of viral hepatitis. It also mandated the Executive Director to enhance collaborations for access to affordable treatment.
In line with these directions community groups affected by HIV and HCV have reached out to the Executive Director of WHO in appropriate forums with no acknowledgement or response.
Rico Gustav of APN+ notes: “We have reached out to both Global and Regional WHO offices via letters and e mail to initiate collaboration on this issue but none of our efforts have been responded to and that is unacceptable when we witness our friends who continue to die”.
Treatment activists across Europe and Asia, people living with HIV organisations and organisations working with people who use drugs call for an immediate response and leadership from the Executive Director of the WHO to ensure that she delivers on her mandate and responsibilities.
Anand Chabungbam, Coordinator, ANPUD Regional HCV Initiative, mentions that “HCV affects people who inject drugs disproportionately. Many of the PLHIV living with HIV has co-infection with HCV. We continue to live well, manage our HIV well, but many of us are dying of HCV, irrespective of our HIV progression”.
As recognised by the WHA, hepatitis C is a humanitarian crisis of epidemic proportion. It is time that the world’s leading health agency responds by showing exemplary leadership to ensure that people are provided with Access to Testing, diagnosis and affordable treatment and care. WE CAN and WE MUST STOP DEATH FROM A TREATABLE DISEASE.
Photos from the demostration available here.

For more information, contact:
Anand Chanbungbam, HCV coordinator: anand.chabungbam@anpud.info
Rico Gustav, APN+: rico@apnplus.org