The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that three to four million people are infected with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) each year. Some 130 to 170 million people are chronically infected with HCV and are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. In Cameroon, no exact data exist on those suffering from HCV. But statistics collected from a private clinic in Yaounde (Cathedral Medical Centre) show that some 100 people, each year undertake treatment in Hepatitis C; a liver disease caused by Hepatitis C virus which is deadly, costly but curable.
Dr Isabelle Dang Babagna, a gastroenterologist at the Cathedral Medical Centre (CMC) in Yaounde says although some 100 HCV patients consult at the centre, just 25 per cent of the patients are able to follow-up treatment. She adds that amongst the other 75 per cent of HCV patients, 25 per cent are not obliged to start treatment while 50 per cent of them do not have money to follow-up treatment which could range from FCFA four to eight million. However, HCV treatment at CMC does not reflect the real number of people carrying HCV in Cameroon. Dr Isabelle Dang says once a patient is diagnosed with a hepatitis virus, they begin by telling the patient what the disease is all about and the means of transmission. Thereafter, the patient is asked to carryout a detailed medical examination to know the stage of the virus, quantity and the type of virus such as Hepatitis A, B, C or D. Experts say the detailed medical tests, which consist of many medical analyses, is carried out in laboratories out of Cameroon and costs some FCFA 250,000. When a patient’s laboratory analyses are available, Dr Isabelle says at that point, they are able to know the stage of the virus. It could be stage one, two, three or more. If the virus is at a chronic hepatitis stage, it helps experts know the patient should commence treatment immediately. It is noted that inactive carriers of HCV are not obliged to start treatment unless they are active carriers of the virus.
Before starting HCV treatment, medical experts also inform the patient about the treatment, its cost, duration and side effects. The type of virus determines the duration of treatment which could run from six months to one year. Dr Isabelle noted that two drugs are administered in the treatment of HCV. One of them is given free and the other, which is an injection, costs over FCFA 150,000 and is taken once a week for about six months or one year. She explains that there are negotiations between the National Society of Gastroenterologists, the laboratory that produces HCV drugs and the Ministry of Public Health to reduce the cost of treating HCV in Cameroon. The effectiveness of the treatment is evaluated through biological and clinical medical tests to know if the quantity of the virus is reducing or not.
Those suffering from HCV are not prohibited from sexual intercourse but should avoid sex during menstruation since the virus is transmitted through the blood. HCV patients are also advised to eat properly and stop smoking and alcohol for these actions greatly aggravate the illness, affecting the liver. Many people infected by Hepatitis C have little or mild symptoms.
