Prof Richard Njouom recently spoke on the site of Nohep. NOhep unites the global hepatitis community behind our shared goal: the elimination of this disease. With one voice we demand action, we demand change, an end to suffering and a chance for millions of people around the world to live a life free of this global killer.

What does the elimination of viral hepatitis mean to you?

I am working at the Centre Pasteur of Cameroon which is the National Reference Laboratory of Cameroon on Viral hepatitis. Our role is mainly to provide testing (screening and laboratory follow up) for viral hepatitis.Regarding the elimination of viral hepatitis, I am working on the evaluation of Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and Point Of Care tests (POCTs) in order to improve their accessibility in remote areas and to allow people to know their status with regard to viral hepatitis.

In your opinion, what is needed to accelerate the elimination of viral hepatitis?

The elimination of viral hepatitis requires improvement in screening, prevention and access to treatment. Achieving these WHO targets is most feasible when strategically active and targeted screening programs to find and identify hepatitis-infected individuals are combined with the scale-up and strategic use of high effective therapies in the patient population.

In Africa the estimated epidemic size of viral hepatitis for 2017 was higher that of 2016 and this is not a good picture for HCV elimination. There are some gaps that need to be addressed:

Gaps in prevention to be identify end closed,

Testing and treatment to be urgently scaled up,

Public health approach needed to increase access (simplification, service delivery).

What does the elimination of viral hepatitis mean to you?

Elimination for me is the eradication of hepatitis C and the control of hepatitis B and D infections.

Source: http://www.nohep.org/visionaries/medical-professionals/africa/