Email: contact@worldhepatitisalliance.org
Main phone number: +44 (0) 20 7031 6904
Address:
Rue de Rive 4
1204 Genève
Switzerland
UK office:
Unit 2, 27 Corsham Street,
London, N1 6DR
United Kingdom
Our members lead the fight against hepatitis globally. Our members offer advice and support for people living with viral hepatitis and advocate on behalf of the people and communities impacted by hepatitis.
Supported by Cepheid Europe
Session description:
The symposium will include a panel discussion session that will explore the latest advancements in hepatitis diagnostics, focusing on three key areas: integration of diagnostic technologies, acceleration of testing processes, and elimination of barriers to widespread screening. Experts will share insights on how these transformative approaches can enhance early detection, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis, leading to improved patient outcomes globally.
Panellists
Maud Lemoine, Danjuma Adda, Dr. Jorge Antonio Valencia La Rosa, Dr. Elaine Saayman, Cristiana Merendeiro
Session agenda
11:30 – 11:40 Chair: Giten Khwairakpam, TREAT Asia/amfAR, Thailand and Judy Chang, INPUD, Italy
Welcome and Introductions
11:40 – 11:50 Thomas Seyler, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) , Portugal
Monitoring viral hepatitis elimination among PWID in Europe.
11:50 – 11:55 Ema Pos, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Portugal
If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed: lessons from a decentralised infectious disease consultation.
11:55 – 12:00 Brian Conway, Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, Canada
Community Pop – up Clinic: Cascade of care and hepatitis C treatment of Vancouver’s inner – city PWID populations.
12:00 – 12:05 Mercy Nyakowa, National AIDs & STI Control Program: Ministry of Health, Kenya
HCV and HBV prevalence and associated risk factors among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Kenya.
12:05 – 12:10 Nalinikanta Rajkumar, Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), India
Rapid regimen of hepatitis B vaccination: Does it work for high risk groups?
12:10 – 12:25 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
12:25 – 12:30 Chairs
Closing remarks.
Chairs
Danjuma Adda, WHA Past President and WHS 2024 Programme co-chair
Meg Doherty, Director of the Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes and WHS Programme co-chair
Panelists
Rebecca Johnson, Lived experience community advocate, Australia
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO (video), Switzerland
Rita Sá Machado, Direção-Geral da Saúde, Ministry of Health of Portugal
Dr Tenu Avafia, Deputy Executive Director, Unitaid, Switzerland
Aurélia Nguyen, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Switzerland (video)
Alexis Goosdeel, Director, EMCDDA, Portugal
Ricardo Fernandes, CEO, GAT , Portugal
Dr Francisco Leite, Executive Director, UNITE, Portugal
Dr René-Hubert Mendo’o Medjo, Senior Technical Officer, Endemic diseases and NTDs Unit, Division of Disease Prevention and Control (DCP), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention , Ethiopia
Dr Shekwonugaza Gwamna, Honourable Commissioner of Health, Nasarawa State Government, Nigeria
Rachel Halford, President, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom
Chairs: Dr Meg Doherty, WHO, Switzerland and Dr Mohamed Hassany, WHO, Egypt
Session agenda
Chairs
11:30 – 11:35 Maria Buti, EASL Public Health Councilor Spain and Niklas Luhmann, World Health Organization Switzerland
Welcome and introductions
11:35 – 11:40 Ibrahima Gueye, Association Saafara Hépatites Sénégal, Ghana
My journey with hepatitis delta
11:40 – 11:50 Maria Buti, EASL Public Health Councilor, Spain
Hepatitis delta overview including screening challenges.
11:50 – 12:00 Niklas Luhmann, World Health Organization, Switzerland
Introduction to WHO guidance on hepatitis Delta
12:00- 12:05 Naranjargal Dashdorj, Onom Foundation, Mongolia
Viral hepatitis among children and young adults in rural Mongolia: Progress towards elimination – focus on hepatitis delta.
12:05 – 12:10 Yasmin Ibrahim, Hepatitis B Foundation, United States of America (USA)
Social capital benefits and emotional impact of joining hepatitis B & D community advisory board.
12:10 – 12:25 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
12:25 – 12:30 Chairs
Closing remarks.
Chairs
10:30 – 10:35 Julia Sheehan, The Hepatitis C Trust, United Kingdom and Prof. Henrique de Barros, Institute of Public Health University of Porto, Portugal
Welcome and introductions
Panellists
10:35 – 10:45 Dr Filipa Alves da Costa, WHO, Portugal
Hepatitis in prisons report.
10:45 – 10:50 Robert Kosasih, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Indonesia
Piloting service delivery models to scale up hepatitis C screening and treatment within prisons in Indonesia.
10:50 – 10:55 Sean Cox, Hepatitis C Trust,
United Kingdom (UK)
What effect did a HCV peer led programme have in the UK’s largest prison in a 6 month period?
10:55 – 11:00 Dr Nadine Kronfli, McGill University Healthcare Centre, Canada
Optimizing linkage to HCV care for untreated individuals released from Canadian provincial prisons.
11:00 – 11:05 Dr Matthew Akiyama, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, United States of America (USA)
Understanding global hepatitis C advocacy needs to inform the development of a Prisons Advocacy Toolkit.
11:05 – 11:25 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
11:25 – 11:30 Chairs
Closing remarks
Chairs
Manal Ghazzawi, KnowHep Foundation SL, Sierra Leone and Reshu Agarwal, NPO (HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STI Treatment, Care & Support), India WHO CO
Panellists
10:35 – 10:45 Saeed Hamid, Agha Khan, Pakistan
Enhancing prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) interventions.
10:45 – 10:50 Huma Qureshi, Pakistan
Pilot project to introduce hepatitis B birth dose vaccine within 24 hours of delivery in Pakistan.
10:50 – 10:55 Bao Vu, Vietnam
Integrated approach to eliminating mother – to – child transmission of hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis in Vietnam.
10:55 – 11:00 Edina Amponsah – Dacosta, South Africa
Perinatal HIV exposure and risk of viral hepatitis in a South African paediatric population.
11:00 – 11:05 Mohammad Ali, Bangladesh
Capacity building of midwives for PMTCT of hepatitis B in Bangladesh.
11:05 – 11:25 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
11:25 – 11:30 Chairs
Closing remarks.
Chairs
Jessica Hicks, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom and Arafat Bwambale, Great Lakes Peace Centre-Kasese District Local Government, Uganda
Welcome and introductions
Panellists
10:35 – 10:45 Yves Miel Zuniga, United for Global Mental Health (United GMH), Philippines
From advocacy to action: integrating mental health.
10:45 – 10:50
Q&A
10:50 – 10:55
“I can’t wait” video presentation
10:55 – 11:05 David Urick, Patient Advocate, United States of America (USA)
11:05 – 11:10 Matthew Hibbert, The UK Health Security Agency, United Kingdom (UK)
Testing and treatment for hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus in mental health settings in England.
11:15 – 11:25 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
11:25 – 11:30 Chairs
Closing remarks.
What is stopping us from achieving triple elimination? The panel will provide insights into how organisations and institutions from across the three disease areas can better work together to achieve this shared goal, including the process needed to transform from a single/dual elimination service into one that effectively addresses all three.
Chairs
Funmi Lesi, WHO, Switzerland and Lien Tran, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Doherty Institute, Australia
Panellists
Dr Micheal Besong, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Switzerland
Oriel Fernandes, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Rwanda
Fekadu Yadeta Muleta, Ministry of Health, Ethiopia
Karin Timmermans, Unitaid, Switzerland
Dr Rania Tohme, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
Dr Chatree Jullapetch, Ministry of Health, Thailand
Supported by Gilead Europe. A showcase of real-world projects conducted by Gilead ALL4LIVER grantees across the world to highlight best practices, share tangible learnings and inspiration for future collaboration to help make the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 a reality.
Session description:
Importance of empowering the community in eliminating viral hepatitis
Session agenda:
16:45 – 16:55 Sarah Swift, Gilead
Welcome and video showcase
16:55 – 17:00 Rachel Halford, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), United Kingdom (UK)
Welcome
17:00 – 17:40 Danjuma Adda, Center for Initiative & Development (CFID), Nigeria ,Paulo Anjos, Associação Existências, Portugal and Caroline Thomas, Yayasan Peduli Hati Bangsa, Indonesia
17:40 – 17:45 Sarah Swift, Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Recap and close
Session agenda
Chairs
15:15-15:20 Caroline Thomas, Yayasan Peduli Hati Bangsa, Indonesia and Cary James World Hepatitis Alliance United Kingdom
Panellists
15:20-15:25 Shaibu Issa, Organization for Medical Outreach to Community, Tanzania
My experience fighting stigma and discrimination
15:25-15:30 Ivana Dragojevic, Patient Representative, Serbia
My fight with stigma and discrimination
Ana Finatto – Canabarro, ECDC, Sweden
Understanding hepatitis stigma in Europe.
15:40 – 15:45 Freddy Green, UKHSA, United Kingdom (UK)
Systematic review of the measurement of stigma associated with hepatitis B or hepatitis C: preliminary findings.
15:45 – 15:50 Olivia Dawson, International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU), Australia
Storytelling for advocacy – a mentoring program in Kenya and South Africa.
15:50 – 15:55 Ice Huang, Inno Community Development Organisation, China
What 500 stories of stigma and discrimination against hepatitis tell us?
15:55 – 16:20 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
16:20 – 16:25 Chairs
Closing remarks
The power of community-led services in elimination
This session explores the value of community delivered services to the people they serve and to the heath-systems they support. Panellists will share good practice on the design and implementation of services and how by working together communities and healthcare systems overcame the challenges of implementation to build trust and maximise impact.
Chairs
Rachel Halford, WHA, United Kingdom and Luis Mendão, GAT, Portugal
Panellists
Danjuma Adda, Centre for Initiative and Development and Chagro Care Trust, Nigeria
Tung Doan, Y+ Global, Vietnam
Tran Dai Quang, Ministry of Health, Vietnam
Rui Tato Marinho, Ministry of Health, Portugal
Katrin Schiffer, Correlation Network, Netherlands
Stuart Smith, The Hepatitis C Trust, United Kingdom
Session agenda
Chairs
11:30 – 11:35 Dr Jane Davies, Menzies School of Health Research, Australia
Welcome and introductions
Panellists
11:35 – 11:45 Tung Doan and Zipporah Achieng, Y+ Global, Vietnam and Kenya
Unlocking youth-led advocacy for hepatitis.
11:45 – 11:50
Q&A
11:50 – 11:55 Farihah Malik, Public Health Consultant, Pakistan
Healthcare workers’ preferences about treatment of children & adolescents with hepatitis B infection.
11:55 – 12:00 Garba Dunjuma, Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation (WACHEF), Nigeria
Knowledge, Hepatitis B and C Testing and Hepatitis B Vaccine among YPLHIV Attending OTZ Clubs.
12:00 – 12:05 Zunaid Paiker, Bangladesh
Strategic partnerships to amplify hepatitis awareness among diverse audiences in Bangladesh.
12:05 – 12:25 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
12:25 – 12:30 Chairs
Closing remarks.
Organised by The Hepatitis C Trust, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
Session description
This session will describe the innovative multi-sector approaches that have been taken in England to accelerate progress towards elimination, including large scale investment and partnership working to deliver testing and treatment at scale, harnessing peer involvement to embed a human-rights based approach to elimination, and the strengthening and use of national surveillance and other data to target and evaluate initiatives. It will also describe some of the challenges faced and how systems will need to adapt with changing epidemiology as we approach elimination and through to maintenance.
Session objectives
1. To describe the journey taken in England to harness investment and political support to accelerate progress towards elimination
2. To describe the range of innovative multi-sector testing and treatment initiatives delivered in England and their relative contribution to the elimination agenda
3. To discuss the pivotal role of peers in supporting elimination activities and embedding a human rights and inclusion health-based approach
4. To discuss the role of strengthened surveillance, monitoring and other data in evidencing progress towards elimination, evaluating the impact of interventions and supporting targeted case finding and treatment
5. To debate the challenges that changing epidemiology and reliance on the continued commitment of the health and social care system will bring as we move to maintenance.
Chair
Philippa Easterbrook
Panellists
Philippa Easterbrook
Introduction
Monica Desai
Overview of current progress to elimination
Roadmap of the journey to elimination in England
Rachel Halford and Mark Gillyon-Powell
1. Planning the response
Mark Gillyon-Powell
2. Driving the response
Rachel Halford
Pivotal role of peers, human rights and stigma
Ruth Simmons and Monica Desai
Evaluating the response
Philippa Easterbrook, World Health Organization, Switzerland
Concluding remarks
Desafios para alcançar as metas da OMS sobre hepatite viral nos países lusófonos
Challenges to reach WHO viral hepatitis goals in lusophone countries.
Panellists
Luis Mendão, GAT, Portugal
Marcelo Naveira, WHO EURO, Brazil
Rui Tato Marinho, Hospital Santa Maria, Portugal
Mario Gonzalez, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Rodrigo Pinheiro, FOAESP – Forum das ONG AIDS do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil
Graça Daniel,
Instituto Nacional de Luta contra Sida, Angola
Rosa Pedro, Mwanho, Angola
Session objectives
1. Present background on why self-test for hepatitis and WHO recommendations
2. Present and discuss country experiences and cross-cutting lessons learned on HCV self-testing
3. Community perspectives
Session agenda
Chairs
Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland and Karin Timmermans, Unitaid, Switzerland
Panellists:
11:30 – 11:40 Sahar Bajis, WHO, Switzerland
Self-testing is the new normal: Where do we stand with hepatitis self-testing?
11:40 – 11:55 Karin Hatzold, PSI, South Africa
Hepatitis C self-testing: Lessons learned and implementation considerations from the STAR initiative.
11:55 – 12:02 Muhammad Khawar Aslam, Médecins sans frontières, Belgium
Abstract 1: Feasibility study of hepatitis C self-testing in a high-prevalence informal settlement in Karachi, Pakistan.
12:02 – 12:09
Abstract 2: Empowering communities via self-testing app for hepatitis B & C detection, vigilance & surveillance.
12:09 – 12:14 Caroline Thomas, Yayasan Peduli Hati Bangsa, Indonesia
Community perspective on hepatitis C self-testing.
12:14 – 12:30 All presenters
Q&A: Panel discussion and closing.
Session agenda
Chairs
11:30 – 11:35 John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE), United States of America (USA) and Patricia Velez-Moller
Welcome and introductions.
Panellists
Australia’s national policy framework to eliminate hepatitis B and hepatitis C by 2030.
11:40 – 11:45 Loreta Kondili, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy
Successes and Challenges of Hepatitis C Virus Elimination in Italy.
11:45 – 11:50 Chia – Yen Dai, Liver Research Foundation
Elimination of Hepatitis C: Important Roles of Government and Non-Government Organization.
11:55 – 12:00 Maria Eugenia de Feo Moyano, Fundación HCV Sin Fronteras, Argentina
Leave no one behind without care for viral hepatitis union and cooperation in Latin America.
12:00 – 12:25 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
12:25 – 12:30 Chairs
Closing remarks.
Lack of financing is often the biggest and most persistent barrier we face on the path to elimination. Unlocking increased domestic financing will be a critical if we are to address this barrier. This session will explore how different countries with very different financial situations are overcoming challenges and finding financing solutions.
Chairs
Margaret Hellard, Burnet Institute, Australia and Charles Gore, Medicines Patent Pool, Switzerland
Panellists
Mark, Gillyon-Powell, NHS England, United Kingdom
Thandar Naing, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Myanmar
Homie Razavi, CDA Foundation, USA
Carolyn Wester, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
Organised by ICE – HBV
Session agenda:
08:15 – 08:20 ICE – HBV
Welcome and introductions.
08:20 – 08:32 Hélène Kerth, ICE-HBV, Germany
Cure types and how can we tell if a person has achieved a functional cure?
08:40 – 08:50 Anna Kramvis, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
How could treatment be improved to achieve a functional cure.
08:50 – 09:00 John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE), United States of America (USA)
How can this be deployable equitably world – wide, including in low- or middle-income country (LMIC)?
Yasmin Ibrahim, Hepatitis B Foundation
09:00 – 09:10 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
09:10 – 09:15 Chairs
Closing remarks.
Chairs
Philippa Easterbrook, World Health Organization, Switzerland
Gamal Shiha, World Hepatitis Alliance, Egypt
Welcome and introductions
Panellists
17:05 – 17:10 Abate Bane, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Increasing burden of acute hepatitis A in Ethiopia: Call for inclusion of hepatitis A vaccine in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).
17:10 17:15 Iza Ciglenecki, Médecins Sans Frontières, Switzerland
Safety of hepatitis E vaccine in pregnancy: emulating a target trial in South Sudan
17:20 – 17:30 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
17:30 – 17:40 Chairs
Closing remarks.
Chairs
Rob Brierley, Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, United Kingdom and Kim Green, PATH, USA
Panellists
15:20 – 15:25 Nhan Thi Do, Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control, Vietnam
Success in integrating and decentralising hepatitis C services into HIV treatment facilities in Vietnam.
15:25 – 15:30 Indrajit Ghosh, Mortimer Market Centre, United Kingdom (UK)
An integrated care pathway for people living with chronic viral hepatitis in North Central London.
15:30 – 15:35 Lien Tran, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Doherty Institute, Australia
Co – morbidities in hepatitis B patients in Australian primary care and the need for holistic care.
15:35 – 15:40 Irem Ozdemir, Living with hepatitis association (HEPYASAM), Turkey
Collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) established in other fields and increased visibility on social media.
15:40-15:45 Anna Khoperia, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) Georgia, Georgia
Liver cancer in HCV-infected individuals and association with treatment and cure, Georgia, 2015-2022 .
15:45 – 15:50 Muhammad Ahmar Khan, Association for Social Development, Pakistan
Integrating hepatitis C “test – treat – prevent” care into primary health care in a developing country context.
15:50 – 15:55 Chidinma Umebido,Jhpiego Nigeria, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, HIV and Infectious Diseases, Nigeria
Feasibility and impact of decentralisation and integration of hepatitis C care cascade in Nigeria.
15:55- 16:40 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
16:40 – 16:45 Chairs
Closing remarks.
Chair:
15:15-15:20 Daniel Simoes, Coalition PLUS, Portugal and Wendy Spearman, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Welcome and introductions.
Panellists
15:20 – 15:25 Abdullah Mahmood, Chittagong Medical College, Bangladesh
Seropositivity and risk factors of hepatitis B & hepatitis C in transgender population in urban areas of Bangladesh.
15:25 – 15:30 Hassan Mahmood, Integral Global, Pakistan
Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections among transgender people and men who have sex with men (MSM) in Pakistan.
15:35 – 15:40 Bao Vu, PATH, Vietnam
Integrated approach to micro – elimination of hepatitis B and hepatitis C among key populations in Vietnam.
15:40 – 15:45 Anthony Garba Dorofi, Hope for Healthy Life Foundation (HohLiF), Nigeria
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C stigma, and discrimination among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Taraba State.
15:45 – 16:35 All speakers
Q&A and discussion.
16:35 – 16:45 Chairs
Closing remarks.
Session description
This session will describe the history, development and delivery of Emergency Department (ED) opt out testing in England. It will provide an overview of the roles of delivery partners, the commissioning of the service, tools to drive delivery and the challenges faced. Lessons will be applicable to other case finding methodologies.
10:30 – 10:35 Dr Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland
Welcome and opening remarks.
10:35 – 10:50 Ian Jackson, NHS England, United Kingdom
Emergency department opt-out testing: a brief history, overview and achievements.
10:50 – 11:15 (Table leads – Ian Jackson, Mark Gillyon-Powell, Dr Stuart Flanagan, Carrie Gardner, Dr Sahar Bajis, Dr Niklas Luhmann)
Facilitated table work
11:15 – 11:25 (Table leads)
Brief feedback
11:25 – 11:30 Dr Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland
Closing remarks
Session objectives
This session will focus on how to improve collection and use of country data to drive the national hepatitis response.
1. Understanding the the need to generate and use data to drive decisions for actions
2. Using country data for action and investment
3. Using data for impact assessment
Session agenda
Chairs:
Rania Tohm, USCDC and Daniel Low Beer, WHO HQ
Welcome and introduction
Panellists:
11:35 – 11:45 Daniel Low beer, WHO
Hepatitis data can drive access and action- WHO strategic information guidance
11:45 – 11:55 Homie Razavi, CDA
Data for action- using country data for hepatitis investment
11:55 – 12:05 Dr Sema Mandal, UK
HBV PMTCT : data triangulation for estimation of impact
12:05 – 12:15 Ahmed Sabry, EMRO
Surveillance for viral hepatitis mortality
12:15 – 12:30 All presenters
Q&A Panel discussion and closing
Chair
Cary James, WHA, United Kingdom
Session agenda:
11:35 – 11:45 Lucica Ditiu, Stop TB Partnership
11.45 – 11:55 Zahedul Islam, Alliance for Public Health Ukraine
11:55 – 12:05 Muhammad Ahmar Khan
12:05 – 12:25 All speakers
Q&A and discussion
12:25 – 12:30 Chairs
Closing remarks
Join us for this session to explore the opportunity to create a World Hepatitis Testing Week later in 2024. We will learn from the experience of European Testing Week and discuss how we can create an event that will increase testing for hepatitis around the world.
Are we facing a crisis of undiagnosed chronic hepatitis B in Europe? Data coming out of the UK and Spain suggests that large numbers of hepatitis B cases are going undetected. And if it’s true in the UK and Spain – could it also be true in other parts of Europe? Join this session to hear about the latest findings and discuss what needs to be done to address it on a regional, national and local level.
Organised by Medicines Patent Pool and World Hepatitis Alliance
Background
Hepatitis B and C are treatable, with cost effective services that can be delivered easily within primary health care. However, most countries are still not on track to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) target to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
As per WHO, there are better tools and data than ever to prevent, diagnose and treat viral hepatitis, including vaccines and effective treatments for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C. While most of WHO recommended treatments are now available in their generic form and prices for certain recommended combinations dropped as low as USD 33 per treatment course for treating HCV and USD 2.4 per month for treating HBV in low-and-middle-income countries, access to treatments for people in need in LMICs is very much lagging global objectives. While price of medicines is key, access to viral treatment is often hindered by other factors such as lack of awareness on viral hepatitis, prices of diagnostics and their limited decentralization, lack of funding for viral hepatitis programs, as well as discrimination of certain groups most vulnerable to viral hepatitis.
Session objectives
What are the remaining challenges for equitable access? This 75 min panel discussion aims to answer this question, by identifying the roadblocks on the way to viral hepatitis treatment access and propose solutions to address them. It aims to understand what treatments are currently available for LMICs, current prices, and what remains to be done to ensure viral hepatitis elimination.
Chairs
Jessica Hicks, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), United Kingdom (UK) and Mila Maistat, Medicines Patent Pool, Switzerland.
Panellists
Meg Doherty, WHO, Switzerland
Key highlights from WHO Access Report
Tenu Avafia, Unitaid, Switzerland
Market shaping and access: the Unitaid approach.
Charles Gore, Medicines Patent Pool, Switzerland
The role of access in viral hepatitis elimination
Dr Sandhya Kabra, Deputy Commissioner NVHCP & Additional Director, NCDC MoHFW, India
Insights into India’s efforts in addressing the challenges related to hepatitis treatment.
Dr Rita Atugonza, Vaccines and Immunization Division, Ministry of Health, Uganda
Insights into Uganda’s efforts in addressing the challenges related to hepatitis prevention and treatment
Aisuluu Bolotbayeva, EATG
Community and access
All
Panel discussion
Co-Chairs
Closing
Session objectives
Organised by GAP-f
Recap from the first Task Team focussed on HCV among paediatric populations.
Guidelines
Paediatric DAA uptake
Need to revisit prioritization
Potential programming approaches.
Session agenda
08:00 – 08:05 Farihah Malik, GAP-f, Pakistan
Welcome, Setting the Stage, and Review of paediatric direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments.
08:05 – 08:20
Introductions
08:20 – 08:45
Q&A and discussion
Session description:
Efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis must actively involve people with lived experience to ensure they are effective, equitable, and responsive to the needs of those affected by the disease.
Lived experience plays a vital role across the world in driving efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis by informing public health strategies, engaging communities, providing support, driving research and innovation, advocating for policy change, and humanizing the issue.
This interactive workshop will explore the role of lived experience within viral hepatitis elimination across the world.
Showcasing the journey of the Hepatitis C Trust peer programme in the UK, we will evidence the impact of patients sitting as key stakeholders within a national elimination programme.
Drawing on participants’ experience in their home countries, we will explore the role of lived experience in current viral hepatitis programmes globally, their aims and aspirations for the future, and the barriers and facilitators to expanding the role of lived experience as we move towards elimination.
We welcome people with lived experience and others from across the world to attend this workshop – share their experiences and be a part of creating a current global picture of the role of patient involvement in the elimination of viral hepatitis.
Community Corner
11:00 – 11:30
WHA Members gathering in Community Corner.
Poster Tours
Inferior Foyer, Screen 1
Chair: Capucine Penicaud, Medicines Patent Pool
Abstracts:
Inferior Foyer, Screen 2
Chair: Philippa Matthews, Francis Crick Institute
Abstracts:
Community Corner Discussion Area
14:00 – 14:30 Abdourahmane Diouria Diallo, SOS Hepatities Guinee
“Les difficultés de prise en charge des hépatites virales en Afrique :Exemple la Guinée / Difficulties in treating viral hepatitis in Africa: Example of Guinea.”
14:35 – 15:05 Lorena Stoopen,
FundHepa, Mexico
“Hepatitis C eradication. From identification of the HCV to effective treatment and follow up to eradication in Mexico.”
Community Corner Stand
14:00 – 14:30 Prof Mohammad Ali, National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh, Bangaldesh
“Showcasing National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh.”
14:35 – 15:05 – “Manal Ghazzawi, KnowHep, Sierra Leone
“A cry for help: harm reduction strategies among K2 spice users vs the fight against hepatitis B. Both a public health crisis in Sierra Leone.”
Community Corner Discussion Area
11:30 – 12:00 Hazel Heal, Global Health NZ, New Zealand
“Cure-a-Country – Island by island elimination in the Pacific with civil society support”
Community Corner Stand
11:30 – 12:00 Maria Eugenia, Fundacion HCV Sin Fronteras, Argentina
“Viral hepatitis – Universal coverage – A question of human rights. HepaRed Latin America and the Caribbean”
Poster Tours
Inferior Foyer, Screen 1
Chair:Mitchell Leus, Forum for Collaborative Research
Abstracts:
Inferior Foyer, Screen 2
Chair: Zunaid Paiker, National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh
Abstracts:
Community Corner Discussion Area
14:00 – 14:30 Justin Webb, World Hepatitis Alliance
“Community Impact Programme.”
14:35 – 15:05 Tatjana Reic, Hepatos, Croatia
“Adressing medical deserts: Importance of outreach/linkage-to-care services on the path to microelimination/WHO elimination goal.”
Community Corner Stand
14:00 – 14:30 Arafat Bwambale, Great Lakes Peace Centre, Uganda
“#NohepYouthmovement: Leveraging grass root youth to eliminate hepatitis.”
14:35 – 15:05 Princess Adepeju Ogunleye,
SEHAM Healthcare Foundation, Nigeria
“Community Activities”
Community Corner Discussion Area
11:00 – 11:30 Anil Jaykarbhai Parmar, United Way Mumbai, India
“Challenges of Working with Vulnerable Communities on Hepatitis in underserved communities.”
Community Corner Stand
11:00 – 11:30 Olivia Dawson, INHSU, Australia
“INHSU 2024 Athens Conference”
Poster Tours
Inferior Foyer, Screen 1
Chair: Yasmin Ibrahim, Hepatitis B Foundation
Abstracts:
Inferior Foyer, Screen 2
Chair: Rob Brierley, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Abstracts:
Supported by AbbVie, Inc
Session description:
Mental health. stigma and addiction can place significant barriers in the way of testing and treating HCV. At this year’s World Hepatitis Summit, AbbVie is uniting leading experts, thought-leaders and stakeholders to achieve the goal of eliminating HCV by 2030. Join us as we discuss the prevalence of HCV in those with mental health diagnoses, strategies for patients with addiction and mental health challenges, and how innovative approaches are already delivering lasting local and global change.
Moderator:
Prof. Rui Tato Marinho, Ministry of Health, Portugal
Panellists:
Dr. Filipe Calinas, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal
Dra. Elsa Belo, Ares do Pinhal, Portugal
Mobilising a whole health-system response to elimination
Integration and collaboration to improve the health of our communities.
This session will explore how hepatitis elimination can be achieved by mobilising existing resources throughout healthcare systems and how working in partnership with other disease areas will help us achieve our shared goals of improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Chairs
Cary James, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom and Kim Green, PATH, Vietnam
Panellists
Cristina Fonesca, Union for International Cancer Control, Portugal
Lucica Ditiu, Stop TB Partnership, Switzerland
Mario Peribanez Gonzalez, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Kelly Hosking, Northern Territory Health, Australia
Sarah Mariyalawuy Bukulatjpi, Northern Territory Health, Australia
Yves Miel Zuñiga, United for Global Mental Health, Philippines
Amir Shroufi, The Global Fund (online)
Sandhya Kabra, Ministry of Health India
Viral hepatitis remains a major public health challenge of this decade, and the world is still far from achieving its elimination by 2030. Over 300 million people are living with hepatitis B and C globally, and over 1.3 million die each year from the complications of the disease. Many people remain undiagnosed in, the number of people receiving treatment remains incredibly low. Although medicines are available at affordable prices, many countries are still not taking full advantage of these treatments because of policy, programmatic and access barriers.
The Global Hepatitis Report 2024 is the first consolidated WHO report on viral hepatitis epidemiology, service coverage and product access, with improved data for action. This exciting report contains information from 187 countries and outlines regional perspectives and actionable steps to scale up interventions, emphasizing the importance of leveraging lessons from the COVID-19 response. Based on country gaps and barriers analysis up to 2023, the report also outlines actions to advance a public health approach to viral hepatitis in order to drive progress towards eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Chairs
Dr Meg Doherty, Director, Department of HIV, Hepatitis and STIs, WHO HQ, Geneva
Dr Mohammed Hassany, MOH Egypt
Panellists
Rui Tato Marinho, Santa Maria (Hospital S.Maria and Health Centers), Portugal
High level address
Dr Daniel Low-Beer, Head, SIA unit, WHO HQ Geneva
Updates in hepatitis B & C epidemiology data
Francoise Renaud, SIA unit, WHO HQ Geneva
Progress and gaps in access
Dr Huma Qureshi, MOH, Pakistan
Country Presentation
What actions have they taken for HBV and HCV access and what are the next steps to scale up.
Dr Shakhlo Sadirova, MOH, Uzbekistan
Country presentation
What actions have they taken for HBV and HCV access and what are the next steps to scale up.
Dr Meg Doherty
Official launch
Meet the stars of the “I Can’t Wait!” video series: David, Shabana and Shaibu. Learn more about their inspirational stories and ask them questions about their journeys as people living with hepatitis.
Chair
Cary James, WHA
Speakers
Shabana Begum, United Kingdom
Shaibu Issa, Tanzania
Session description
Principles of community engagement, and the importance of communities being integrated into the development and implementation of projects right from the start, are becoming increasing priorities at the global level in relation to people who use drugs. In April 2023, Unitaid announced new investments in three projects to work on the prevention of hepatitis C among key populations – notably people who inject drugs. The projects, led by Frontline AIDS, Médecins du Monde and PATH, will work in 10 low- and middle-income countries. A key objective of the work will be to explore the feasibility and impact of introducing innovative and under-used products (long-acting depot buprenorphine and low dead-space syringes). Research will be conducted with the aim of informing policies and practices at national and global level. In addition to working in close collaboration with WHO, these projects are noteworthy due to their commitment to working in full partnership with community.
This session will share the experience to date, in building an effective Community Advisory Board (CAB) including sharing the experience of involving communities in the design of the research.
Chairs
Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland and Danjuma Adda, World Hepatitis Alliance, Nigeria
Panellists
16:55 – 17:00 Chairs
Introduction
17:00 – 17:10 Akko Eleveld, Unitaid, Switzerland
Engaging communities in research on the prevention of hepatitis C among key populations : a Unitaid perspective
17:10 – 17:20 Judy Chang, HCV CAB Chair/INPUD, Italy
Involving communities: creation and role of a Community Advisory Board (CAB)
17:20-17:35 Mat Southwell, Coact, Demystifying the work of the CAB – Example in Practice: LADB Master Research Protocol
17:35 – 17:45 Olexii Kvitkovsky, HCV CAB member
Community Voices – Speaking for Ourselves
17:20 – 17:30 Olexii Kvitkovsky, HCV CAB member, Ukraine
Community Voices – Speaking for Ourselves
17:30-17:45 Mat Southwell, Coact, United Kingdom
Demystifying the work of the CAB – Example in Practice: LADB Master Research Protocol
17:45-17:50 Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland
Zooming out – reflections on the experience with community input in research protocols
17:50-18:20
Q&A
18:20-18:25 Judy Chang, HCV CAB Chair/INPUD, Italy
Key messages & Lessons learnt
18:25-18:30 Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland and Danjuma Adda, World Hepatitis Alliance, Nigeria
Wrap-up
Chairs
Cary James, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom
Funmi Lesi, World Health Organization, Switzerland
Panellists
Dr.Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn, Director-General of the Disease Control Department, Thailand
Ms Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia (video)
Rachel Halford, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom
Chairs
Rachel Halford, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), United Kingdom and Danjuma Adda, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), Nigeria
Panellists
Fungisai Siggins, Hepatitis Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Dee Lee, Inno Asia, China
Patricia Velez-Moller, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala
Trevor Stratton, CAAN, Canada
Zipporah Achieng, National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, Kenya
Session description
The aim of this session is to present the recommendations and rationale for the new 2024 WHO global hepatitis B guidelines. Eleven key topics will be covered including:- use of non-invasive tests for staging of liver disease; who to treat in persons with chronic hepatitis B; first-line antiviral therapies for chronic hepatitis B; prevention of mother-to-children transmission using antiviral prophylaxis; treatment of adolescents and children with chronic hepatitis B; measurement of HBV DNA to guide treatment and monitoring response; HBV DNA reflex testing; hepatitis D virus testing – who to test and how to test, including reflex testing; and guiding principles for simplifiying service delivery. A panel discussion will address implications of implementing these recommendations in different countries, and the role and perspectives of civil society.
Chairs
Co-chairs: Philippa Easterbrook (WHO), Saeed Hamid (Aga Khan University, Pakistan), Polin Chan (SEARO)
Philippa Easterbrook, WHO HQ
Part 1: New HBV Guidelines
New WHO hepatitis B guidance on expanded simplified treatment criteria, diagnostic innovations and service delivery: recommendations, evidence-base and rationale
Danjuma Adda, World Hepatitis Alliance
Community perspective
Philippa Easterbrook, WHO HQ
Q&A
Part 2: Implementation challenges and opportunities across the regions
Perspectives from countries in different regions on implementing new guideline recommendations on key topics areas
Panellists
· Rita Atungonza (Uganda MOH)
· Rose Ada (Cameroon MOH)
· Rui Marinho (Portugal MOH)
· Keo Samley (Cambodia MOH)
· Sandya Kabra (India MOH)
· Badral Davgasuren (Mongolia MOH)
Session agenda
17:45-18:00 Dr Erika Duffell, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Sweden
Welcome and Introductions
18:00-18:30
Julia Sheehan, The Hepatitis C Trust, United Kingdom
Integration of peers in hepatitis C prison elimination programs.
Dr Matthew Akiyama, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, United States of America (USA)
Global effective models of care to accelerate elimination.
Dr Nadine Kronfli, McGill University Health Centre, Canada
Role of harm reduction as the last element needed in the prison elimination package.
18:30-18:45
Q&A and discussion
Session agenda
Chairs
Dee Lee, Inno Asia, China and Philippa Matthews, The Francis Crick Institute United Kingdom
Panellists
Olivia Dawson, International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU), Australia
Elimination of Hepatitis Through Partnership, Engagement, Digital and AI-Based Systems in Quetta.
Charles Adjei, Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana, Ghana
Using tele-health to expand access to monitoring and support for patients with hepatitis B in Ghana.
Milan MIshkovikj, European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA), Macedonia
A national triumph for liver health: Transforming North Macedonia’s hepatitis landscape.
Dr. Huma Qureshi, Integral Global, Pakistan
Comparison of hepatitis C RNA results using plasma separation card with gold standard veni-puncture.
Patricia Vélez-Möller, Asociación Guatemalteca del Hígado, Guatemala
Guatemala libre de hepatitis, a health promotion World Hepatitis Day collaborative campaign
All speakers
Q&A and closing remarks
Chairs
Closing remarks
Chairs
15:15-15:20 Rebecca Johnson, Hepatitis Australia, Australia and Trevor Stratton, CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks, Canada
Welcome and introductions
Panellists
15:20 – 15:30 Rebecca Johnson, Hepatitis Australia, Australia
Opening remarks
15:30-15:35 George Garambaka Gurruwiwi, Menzies School of Health Research, Australia
Adapting and translating hepatitis B health education resources with and for First Nations people
15:35-15:40 Sarah Mariyalawuy Bukulatjpi and Tammy-Allyn Fernandes, Jennifer MacLachlan Australia
“Putting the power back into community”: the story of co-designing and delivering a culturally safe education course on Hep B with and for the Aboriginal health workforce.
15:40-15:45 Gaye Wheeler, Cherokee Nation
15:45-16:15 All speakers
Q&A and discussion
16:15-16:25
Cultural exchange
16:25-16:30 Chairs
Closing remarks
Chair
Oriel Fernandes, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Rwanda
Panellists
Jessica Hicks, WHA, UK
Grace Singh, Clinton Health Access Initiative, USA
Chukwuemeka Agwuocha, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Nigeria
Dr Garba Danjuma, Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation (WACHEF), Nigeria
Dr Akudo Ikpeazu, World Health Organization, Republic of Congo
Felicity Jinga, Ministry of Health Nigeria, Nigeria
Rita Atugonza, Ministry of Health, Uganda
Caroline Thomas, Yayasan Peduli Hati
Hepatitis and PWID/harm reduction
11:35 – 11:40
Chair: WHO – Intro and set the scene.
11:40 – 11:55
Co-chair: EMCDDA – Monitoring viral hepatitis elimination among PWID in Europe.
11:55 – 12:00
ID 29: Ema Pos (not yet registered)
Title: If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed: lessons from a decentralized Infectious Disease consultation.
12:05 – 12:10
ID 152: Brian Conway (Registered in person)
Title: Community Pop-up Clinic: Cascade of Care and HCV Treatment of Vancouver’s inner-city PWID Populations.
12:10 – 12:15
ID 212: Jasmine West (not yet registered)
Title: From lived experience to lived expertise: a syndemic approach.
12:15 – 12:20
ID: 299 Mercy Nyakowa (Registered in person)
Title: HCV and HBV prevalence and associated risk factors among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Kenya
12:20 – 12:25
ID: 133 Nalinikanta Rajkumar (Registered in person)
Title: Rapid regimen of HBV vaccination: Does it work for high risk groups?
12:25 – 12:30
Q&A and closing remarks
tHIS
IS
BEN’S
BIG
TEST
effective case finding strategies
Supported by Vir Biotechnology, Inc
During this session you will hear from hepatitis Delta expert, Dr. Maria Buti, and a patient who has lived with hepatitis Delta in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Carey Hwang, Chief Medical Officer (interim) of Vir Biotechnology. This panel will inform perspectives on patient needs, opportunities for enhanced screening, and strengthening linkages to care.
Session Agenda
14:40 – 14:45
Panel overview and introductions facilitated by Dr Carey Hwang (Vir Biotechnology)
14:45 – 15:05
Panel discussion: Dr Maria Buti (University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Spain), Milanka Barbosa, Dr Carey Hwang (Chief Medical Officer interim), Vir Biotechnology
15:05 – 15:10
Final remarks and close
