15% of people in Transnistria suffer from hepatitis B and C

According to official data, nearly 15% of the people in the Transnistrian region are carriers of hepatitis B and C. In most cases, the people don’t even know they are infected, Novy Region reported. According to the head of the information center “Viitor sanatos” (A Healthy Future) Roman Sandu, the main problem is that the disease doesn’t show any symptoms and can be discovered in late stages, when the virus causes chronic inflammation of the liver. At this stage, it is late to help people because symptoms of cirrhosis and cancer already develop. People with low immunity are especially vulnerable to this disease. “Currently, there is no treatment for hepatitis B and C in the Transnistrian region. Medical services are quite expensive and may cost up to $10,000. The prevention of this disease is a pressing issue and requires immediate and decisive actions from authorities, possibly a national specialized program for treatment of hepatitis”, said Roman Sandu. On the same topic, Sandu says that hepatitis B and C infections can be prevented by raising the awareness level regarding this issue and through modern medical prevention services. The expert said that the risk of the disease is present in all social categories. Usually, the infection takes place at birth, when it is transmitted from mother to child, during blood transfusion or even in beauty salons, if the tools aren’t disinfected properly. “Today, by financing the program for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases it is only possible to diagnose and prevent hepatitis among children. Unfortunately, it’s not sure we’ll have enough funds for 2013. Fighting tuberculosis, hepatitis and HIV is a sphere where we mustn’t spare money”, declared the head of the information center “Viitor sanatos”, Roman Sandu.