The federal government has launched the National Hepatitis C (HVC) Self-testing guideline to increase equitable access to diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
The coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate said ,while launching the guidelines Tuesday in Abuja, said that viral hepatitis was a major public health threat in the country.
He said the HVC self-testing is a new approach recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the purpose of testing and improving access to care and treatment of hepatitis C virus infections in different groups and settings.
Represented by the National Coordinator AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programmes in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Adevobola Bashoru, the minister said that the federal government had conducted Hepatitis C Self-testing information study in four health facilities in Nasarawa state for the purpose of exploring the acceptability, feasibility and cost effectiveness in the country.
