According to the WHO, 1,342,418 people in Ukraine are infected with viral hepatitis C. Only 87,269 people are under medical supervision, which accounts for 6.5% of the total number. Most people are unaware of their condition and therefore do not have access to treatment. Testing is the first step toward that.
From November 20 to 27, Ukraine is hosting European Testing Week for HIV and Hepatitis C. We recorded the stories of people who accidentally contracted viral hepatitis C but were tested in time and recovered.
I found out about my diagnosis by chance this past spring. At the time, I suspected I had appendicitis; I had constant pain on my right side. I went to see a doctor through my insurance; he examined me and said everything was fine, but suggested I undergo some tests, probably suspecting something. Among the tests ordered were tests for viral hepatitis B and C. The result for hepatitis C came back positive, and my doctor (a gastroenterologist by training) advised me to see an infectious disease specialist.
Kostya, 31 years old
I work as a system administrator. I’m married and have a son.
I couldn’t even imagine that my viral hepatitis test result could be positive. When I received the result, I wasn’t particularly worried because I didn’t really know anything about the disease. I sent my results to a doctor I knew, and he told me to come see him immediately. During our meeting, he explained what viral hepatitis C is and the potential consequences it can lead to. That’s when I started to panic; I began searching for information and reading about hepatitis C. Of course, it was scary, but the doctor I spoke with emphasized the most important thing—that the disease is treatable and that there are now treatments available that are much easier to tolerate than they used to be.
Before my diagnosis, I knew absolutely nothing about viral hepatitis C. Once I found out and started sharing the news with my family and friends, it turned out that many of them had hepatitis C. For example, the mother of one of my acquaintances had been cured of hepatitis C.
I suspect I might have been infected at the dentist’s office (it was right at the end of 2019). I know you can get infected through blood or unprotected sexual contact, but I haven’t had any surgeries, and I’m certain about my sexual history. By the way, my wife got tested too, and they didn’t find the virus in her.
Of course, I looked for ways to start treatment. I went to a hospital, but it was right in the middle of the quarantine, and they turned me away. Then I came across a doctor who told me about a government program and that I could get the medication completely free of charge. I was told to gather certain documents, undergo an examination, and a month later I finally received the medication for the first month of treatment. The next time, I immediately received medication for two months of treatment, which lasted a total of three months.
I also had a negative experience while searching for a doctor. For instance, one doctor told me that treatment was currently very expensive and didn’t mention the existence of the government program at all. He described the consequences if I didn’t get treated and said that I had a very high viral load in my blood, so treatment was absolutely essential for me. Then he told me I could buy the medication for $400–500 per package (I needed three), but at the same time noted that if the treatment proved ineffective, I would have to buy Italian medication for €16,000 per course of treatment. I was speechless; I didn’t know what to say—it was way too expensive and definitely not an option for me. Well, then I saw a doctor who told me about the government program.
So I got the medication completely free of charge and only paid for the diagnostics. I spent quite a bit on that too, but mainly because I chose to get a lot of tests done. For example, I wanted to make sure the virus was disappearing, so I checked every two weeks.
Original text of the publication in VILLAGE
Today is World Hepatitis Day—and that’s a great reason to remind you of 7 important facts about this disease and take a step toward defeating it.
Hepatitis is an infectious disease that affects the liver. It can be asymptomatic and deceive you by “attacking” other organs. Once inside the body, the virus can affect the cardiovascular, skeletal, or nervous systems, causing headaches, skin conditions, and rheumatism—in short, it disguises itself however it can. That’s why it’s so important to get tested for hepatitis regularly!
There are five main types of hepatitis virus: A, B, C, D, and E. The most dangerous of these are viral hepatitis B and C: they account for 96% of deaths from this disease.
You can get viral hepatitis if any of the following has ever happened to you:
Chances are, something like this has happened to you at least once, right? So let’s be clear: anyone can get hepatitis, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Since you can get infected through a variety of everyday activities, you should get tested for viral hepatitis every year. The test is covered by the government, takes only 10 minutes, and can be done at your family doctor’s office or at specialized hepatitis testing centers.
You should also get vaccinated against hepatitis B! The vaccine protects against hepatitis D as well, which often occurs as a co-infection. If you don’t get vaccinated, you could end up with a lifelong illness: it is rarely completely curable, but it can be managed by taking medication every day for the rest of your life. So it’s better to get vaccinated once and have peace of mind. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C.
Even though there is no vaccine for it, viral hepatitis C can be completely cured—on an outpatient basis and in just 12 or 24 weeks. The government provides free medication in sufficient quantities. You can also undergo treatment by purchasing medication at a pharmacy for $500–600.
If your rapid hepatitis test comes back positive, you should see an infectious disease specialist or a gastroenterologist. If you don’t want to discuss where and how you contracted the infection, you have every right to remain silent.
You can always seek advice from the non-profit organization “bcd”—it was founded by people who have already overcome the disease themselves and now help others. This organization will help you “decipher” medical referrals, choose the tests you truly need, and share discounts on these tests. They will also provide psychological support and help you get into a free treatment program. Message them on Facebook or call: 073 044 73 44
By getting tested for viral hepatitis, you’re not only checking your own status but also encouraging the government to purchase more medications for this disease and launch free treatment programs. More tests taken mean greater visibility of the problem for the government, and a stronger incentive to take action. Do your part for a good cause—after all, this is a matter of health for hundreds of thousands of people.
According to general estimates, there are 1,500,000 people with hepatitis C in Ukraine. One and a half million Ukrainians—and that’s just hepatitis C; there are also the other four types. But this is only an approximate number, since only 90,000 people are officially registered. In other words, most people are unaware of their status, allowing the disease to destroy their health with impunity and putting those around them at risk. Due to insufficient testing rates, the state “does not see” people with viral hepatitis and, consequently, “does not see” the demand for medications to treat it. Thus, by not getting tested regularly, we allow the state to fail to procure the necessary quantities of medications to combat this disease.
The more tests taken—the more medications against viral hepatitis, the more millions of healthy Ukrainians, and the greater the safety for all of us—even with cuts or unwashed hands. Get tested!
Original text of the post on the TSL: Your Family Doctor page
