To combat hepatitis viruses, the LIVErS project was born, carried out by hepatologists from the simple structure of Liver Diseases of the Duilio Casula Polyclinic, which involves migrants from the Extraordinary Reception Centres (CAS) of southern Sardinia with tests for viral hepatitis (HAV, HBV, HCV, HBV-HdV) and for HIV infection.
«Being able to intercept the infected population through screening in the CAS», says Luchino Chessa, director of the simple structure of Liver Diseases of the Policlinico Duilio, «becomes a public health priority because it gives the possibility of recovery to people who are looking for a better future, a world without wars and who are starting a path of social inclusion in a new nation».
Once the test is performed, those who test positive are taken care of by hepatologists and infectious disease specialists of Liver Diseases at the Duilio Casula Polyclinic and the Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health at the University of Cagliari.
"The migrants will be included in a therapeutic and clinical follow-up path", says hepatologist Chessa, "with the aim of controlling the disease and reducing the risk of transmission". The objectives of the project, continues Professor Luchino Chessa, "are also in line with those established by the WHO, which intends to achieve the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030".
In light of the first screening results in the population, says hepatologist Chessa, "it is assumed that in Sardinia there are at least 30 thousand people with HBV (Hepatitis B virus) and HCV (Hepatitis C virus), and a part of these do not know they have it. There are over 9 thousand patients being treated at the Policlinico Duilio Casula for liver disease and of these about half have a viral infection". Diagnosing the infection in unaware people, concludes Professor Luchino Chessa, "allows us to avoid the complications of an advanced liver disease and allows us to interrupt the circulation of the virus, preventing new infections".
(Online Union)
