Did you know that the famous actor Michael De Mesa suffered from Hepatitis C for almost 18 years? He actually blamed the culprit from a piercing that he got from Texas several years ago. How could you get Hepatitis C from having a pierced ear? Good thing, he was screened when he decided to donate blood and he wouldn't know that he have Hepatitis C because of that. It affected his professional work as well as his personal life for those long 18 years. Now, Mr De Mesa is Hep C free and partners with BEATHepC campaign with Mylan which aims to create awareness around risks and misconceptions about the disease and encourage early screening and treatment to prevent the disease.
Earlier today, November 8, 2018 at Discovery Suites in Ortigas, Mylan launched Hepatitis C awareness campaign in association with the Hepatology Society of the Philippines.
What is Hepatitis C?
- Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.
The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads through contaminated blood. Worldwide Hepatitis C is responsible for 27% of Cirrhosis and 25% of HCV cases. In the Philippines small-scale studies suggest that up to 1% of Filipinos (1 million( could be infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is an emerging public health problem in the Philippines and demands a huge economic and social burden among infected patients.
You may be at risk from Hepatitis if:
- You share needles
- You had blood transfusion
- You often need a helping hand for your grooming session
- You love to spend on lovely tattoo
- You are in Hemodialysis
- You have unprotective/unsafe sex
Common Symptoms of Hepatitis C in the absence of Cirrhosis
- Fatigue
- Impaired cognitive functions
- Low grade fevers
- Abdominal discomfort
- Appetite disturbances
- Abdominal pain
- Digestive disturbances
- Migratory arthralagia or myalgia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Many others
Who should be screened? People who are at possible risk should be screened.
Groups recommended for HCV Testing by AASLD and USPHS
- Recent/past injection drug users - even if only used once
- Groups with high HCV prevalence:
- HIV-infected individuals
- Hemophiliacs treated with clotting factor concentrates before 1987
- Hemodialysis recipients
- Patients with unexplained aminotransferase abnormalities
- Recipients transfusion or transplantation before July 1992
- Children born to women infected with HCV
- Healthcare, public safety, and emergency medical personnel following needle injury or mucosal exposure to HCV-infected blood
- Current sexual partners of individuals infected with HCV
- Persons who have used illicit drugs by non injection routes
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| Michael De Mesa with members of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines Dr. Edhel Tripon and Dr. Jade Jamias |
- Raise awareness on Hepatitis C
- Encourage screening among individuals who are at risk
- Provide improve access to treatment, and
- Eliminate Hepatitis C
About Mylan
Mylan is a global pharmaceutical company committed to setting new standards in healthcare. Working together around the world to provide 7 billion people access to high quality medicine, we innovate to satisfy unmet needs; make reliability and service excellence a habit; do what's right, not what's easy; and impact the future through passionate global leadership. We offer a growing portfolio of more than 7,500 marketed products around the world, including antiretroviral therapies on which more than 40% of people being treated for HIV/AIDS globally depend. We market our products in more than 165 countries and territories. We are one of the world';s largest producers of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Every member of our approximately 35,000-strong workforce is dedicated to creating better health for a better world, one person at a time. Learn more at Mylan.com. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at investor.mylan.com.
About Hepatology Society of the Philippines
The Hepatology Society of the Philippines is a non-governmental organization committed to:
- Provide and promote comprehensive information to the public and to the medical community.
- Promote research to advance the field of hepatology to provide relevant care to patients.
- Collaborate with the government in formulating in liver related health policies
- Share information, services and expertise with the global community towards the prevention and treatment of liver diseases
It is the only liver society recognized by the Philippine Medical Association, Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Society of Gastroenterology and Philippine Society of Digestive Endoscopy. For further information, visit www.hsp.org.ph.
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