Training Session on WHO and China Guide for Hepatitis C held in Zunyi, Guizhou

Co-sponsored by China Liver Health, the Health Commission of Zunyi, the First People’s Hospital of Zunyi and supported by Gilead Sciences Shanghai Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd., the training Session on WHO and national guidelines for hepatitis C prevention and control was held in Zunyi, Guizhou province on Oct 19, 2019, as one of the series of activities of the China Hepatitis C Elimination Alliance Public Welfare Project.

At the training session

Group photo of guests

Prof. Wei Lai (chairman of China Liver Health), Dr. Chen Zhongdan from WHO Representative Office in China, secretary Liu Zhongfu from the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention under China CDC, director Li Mingyang from China Liver Health and other experts attended the meeting. Director Zhang Xiaobing from the Health Commission of Zunyi delivered a speech. President Liu Daishun gave a speech on behalf of the First People’s Hospital of Zunyi, and vice president Yuan Zhengqiang presided over the meeting.

This event is one of the series of activities of the China Hepatitis C Elimination Alliance Public Welfare Project, with academician Zhuang Hui, a foremost authority on hepatology, serving as the general counsel. Nearly 1,000 healthcare workers have taken part in the training in Chengdu of Sichuan province, Hefei of Anhui province, Tianjin, Wuwei of Gansu province, Xining of Qinghai province and other places. Based on WHO and national guidelines for hepatitis C prevention and control, the project aims to implement the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Plan (2017-2020) and promote the integration of national hepatitis C screening and management standard with international standards so as to improve the cure rate of hepatitis C and strengthen management of adverse reactions.

Director Zhang Xiaobing from the Health Commission of Zunyi delivered a speech.

President Liu Daishun from the First People's Hospital of Zunyi delivered a speech.

Vice president Yuan Zhengqiang from the First People's Hospital of Zunyi presided over the meeting.

Director Zhang Xiaobing from the Health Commission of Zunyi expressed gratitude to liver disease experts for their efforts in eliminating hepatitis. He pointed out that eliminating hepatitis C was one of the major tasks in implementing Healthy China 2030 initiative. By actively integrating social resources to jointly promote hepatitis C screening, detection, prevention and treatment, China Hepatitis C Elimination Alliance Public Welfare Project would be an effective attempt for infectious disease prevention and control.

Chairman Wei Lai from China Liver Health announced the Decision on Awarding the First People’s Hospital of Zunyi and Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University the Base Hospital of China Hepatitis C Elimination Alliance Public Welfare Project and conferred the plaque to those hospitals. President Liu Daishun and director Lin Shide accepted the plaque.

Chairman Wei Lai conferred the plaque to president Liu Daishun.

Chairman Wei Lai conferred the plaque to director Lin Shide.

Secretary Liu Zhongfu from the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention under China CDC and Dr. Chen Zhongdan from WHO representative office in China interpreted the disease burden, prevention and control status of hepatitis C and current challenges in China and worldwide respectively. Vice president Luo Xinhua from Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital introduced the epidemic status and disease burden of hepatitis in Guizhou province. There are about 10 million people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) domestically. According to the Global Health Sector Strategy (GHSS) on Viral Hepatitis adopted by the World Health Assembly, China should achieve the goal of 90% of HCV infections being diagnosed and 80% of confirmed cases being treated by 2030. In terms of this goal, healthcare workers in China still have a long way to go.

Secretary Liu Zhongfu introduced the epidemic status and prevention

and control progress of hepatitis in China.

Dr. Chen Zhongdan introduced the global strategy

for viral hepatitis prevention and control.

Vice president Luo Xinhua introduced the epidemic status and disease burden of hepatitis in Guizhou province. 

Director Ning Jiahui from the First People's Hospital of Zunyi and director Lin Shide from the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University interpreted WHO and national guidelines for hepatitis C prevention and control, and discussed the epidemic status of hepatitis C, antiviral treatment for special hepatitis C patients and how to easily and effectively clear HCV.

 Director Ning Jiahui from the First People's Hospital of Zunyi

Director Lin Shide from the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University

Director Li Mingyang introduced the China Hepatitis C Elimination Alliance Public Welfare Project.

Director Li Mingyang from China Liver Health said that, under the guidance of Health Commission of Zunyi, the China Hepatitis C Elimination Alliance Public Welfare Project would carry out in-depth cooperation with local hospitals and professional associations, provide supports for primary health care institutions to carry out health education for hepatitis C prevention and control in communities, provide help in the detection and diagnosis of high-risk groups so as to contribute to hepatitis C elimination in Zunyi.

[Background Information]

Viral hepatitis C (referred to as hepatitis C) is a blood-borne and sexually transmitted disease which can progress to severe diseases such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, causing serious disease burden to the society and families. Hepatitis C can be completely cured with oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). In China, there are 10 million people infected with HCV. However, due to the insidious onset, insufficient attention from patients, high costs of drugs and other reasons, most of them have not been detected and effectively treated.

The China Hepatitis C Elimination Alliance Public Welfare Project is sponsored by China Liver Health and co-organized by the Research Center of Infectious Diseases under Peking University, Chinese Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control,Peking University Hepatology Institute, the hepatology branch and infectious disease branch of Chinese Medical Association, Hepatology Institute of Jilin Province, Virtual Community of Hepatitis C, and Health Times of People’s Daily. It aims to promote the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C, implement the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Plan (2017-2020), and cooperate with the World Health Organization to reach the strategic goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030.