THE Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pan Amer

The viral infection which causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage, spreads through contaminated blood, according to Mayo Clinic.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said that though the price for treatment has reduced significantly over the years, a great challenge still exists for persons in accessing the necessary medication. He said treatment is now estimated at US$2,000 per person.

“If we want to prevent cancers in persons infected with HepC, it is better that you treat them early…We have partnered with PAHO to access these medications and we will be launching that programme on Thursday,” Dr Anthony said on Tuesday.

The minister said this will be the first time Guyana will see a programme of this nature, adding that it will even be one of the leading Hepatitis C treatment initiatives in the Caribbean.

According to the World Health Organisation, more than 350 million people are living with this disease globally.

The virus could begin with an acute phase and go undetected, but could result in symptoms like jaundice, fatigue, fever, muscle aches, or nausea.