It is estimated that one out of every 11 Vietnamese people has chronic hepatitis B, but the rate of diagnosis and control of the disease is very low, leading to liver cancer over time.
“People with hepatitis can be treated with medication to stop the disease from progressing, prevent infection and reduce the risk of developing liver cancer,” Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Deputy Director of the Department of Health, Chairman Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Infectious Diseases Association, speaking at the APAC-IRIDS 2024 international infectious disease conference, June 19.
The World Health Organization estimates that about 7.8 million Vietnamese people are living with hepatitis B and nearly one million people are living with hepatitis C. This is the leading cause of liver cancer. In Vietnam, liver cancer leads the number of deaths with more than 23,000 cases per year, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Globocan).
The number of liver cancer cases has also increased rapidly in recent years. Since 2018, liver cancer has surpassed lung cancer, ranking first in both new cases and death rate in Vietnam. This type of cancer has a poor prognosis and low survival time, contributing to the high cancer death rate in our country globally.
According to Dr. Chau, what is worrying is that many Vietnamese people do not know that they are infected with hepatitis, leading to not seeking treatment. The disease often progresses silently, without obvious symptoms. By the time the disease shows signs and goes to the hospital for testing, it is already in the late stage. According to statistics, about 10-20% of Vietnamese people with hepatitis B are diagnosed and only about 30% of them are treated.
Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau speaks at the APAC-IRIDS 2024 international infectious disease conference. Photo: Quach Thanh
Leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health believe that the hepatitis elimination program needs to shift from the HBsAg testing model (based on clinical indications) to the public health model of routine large-scale testing in the community in Vietnam. Male. This helps detect the disease early, even before there are symptoms, leading to more optimal treatment effectiveness. In addition, the cost of treating early-stage diseases will be much lower than the cost of treating late-stage diseases, especially when they develop into cancer.
“In the long term, we need plans to seek resources and support from international organizations, and continue to petition Vietnam Social Insurance to consider supporting screening costs,” said Dr. Chau. .
Professor Lu Sheng Nan, Deputy Director of Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taiwan – China), said that the important factor that helps this place do well in eradicating hepatitis C is policies to promote early screening, Commitment to implementation efforts from relevant parties, health insurance coverage. When starting the hepatitis elimination program, Taiwan connected experts to analyze epidemiological issues and develop appropriate policies.
Experts recommend that everyone be vaccinated against hepatitis B. People with hepatitis must be treated thoroughly to prevent the progression of cirrhosis and liver cancer. In the family, one person has hepatitis, the rest need to go to the hospital for check-up and monitoring. Regular health check-ups or when there are unusual signs, go to specialized medical facilities for necessary examination and testing. Proper nutrition, ensuring food safety and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a comfortable and optimistic spirit, and regular exercise.