Sampson HIV/AIDS Task Force Hosting National Week of Prayer

Community members throughout Sampson County and surrounding areas are invited to fellowship for the healing of HIV and AIDS.
The Sampson County HIV/AIDS Task Force is sponsoring the 2016 National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, which begins Sunday, March 6, and continues through Sunday, March 13. Locally, the kickoff is scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 7, at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, 537 McKoy St., Clinton. Rev. Willie Bowden Jr. will serve as the guest speaker.
Thomas McLaughlin Jr., chairman of the task force, is looking forward to people attending the event, which has been observed nationwide for more than 20 years. Monday will be the first time the event is observed in Sampson County.
“We hope to make it an annual thing,”McLaughlin said. “We’re excited about it and we’re looking for great participation. We’ve had it in other locations such as Fayetteville and Smithfield and places like that. But this is the first time it will be held in Clinton.”
McLaughlin said one of the plans is to rotate the free event with refreshments at different local churches.
“It’s important for everyone to attend, so they can be on the same page and what to pray for,” he said about the disease. “It’s going to be around for a longtime until we find a cure. So it’s going to take prayer, to not only stop the virus itself, but to help people gain knowledge about how not to spread it.”
As an initiative of The Balm In Gilead, the purpose of the event is to bring national attention to the AIDS epidemic in the United States and role communities of faith can play in AIDS prevention, education, service and advocacy. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.2 million people in the country are living with HIV infection. Almost 1 in 8 (12 percent) of those infected are unaware of their status.
The Balm In Gilead was founded by Pernessa Seele, an American immunologist and interfaith public health activist. The group produces educational and training programs to meet unique needs of African-American and African congregations striving to become community centers for health education and disease prevention. More than 10,000 churches in the United States and Africa are involved with the organization.
Religious institutions such as churches, mosques and temples are invited to participate in the week-long observance. Congregations can join by registering online at www.NationalWeekofPrayerfortheHealingofAIDS.org. Next, the Balm In Gilead can distribute HIV information, promoting HIV testing by providing resources to local health departments and creating ways to show compassion for people effected by HIV.
The upcoming event is not the first time the Sampson County HIV/AIDS task force hosted an awareness event. In December, the organization hosted World AIDS Day. It provided an opportunity for people to gather and show support for those living with the disease and others who have died.

20,000 Georgians to Receive Free Hepatitis C Treatment

TBILISI – Up to 20,000 Georgian citizens suffering from hepatitis C will take part in a program launched by local government with the support of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention aimed at treating and preventing the virus.

Georgia ranks third - after Egypt and Mongolia - on the world list of hepatitis C sufferers, with nearly 7 per cent of the country’s adults classified as carriers of the virus.

According to a 2002 survey of the 1.5 million residents in Georgia’s largest capital Tbilisi, HCV infection is highest amongst people in prison (50%), injection drug users (50–70%) and those who are HIV positive (47%).

According to Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, the initial phase of the program treated 5,000 patients in 2015.

"It is very important to note that more than $2 million were allocated for this program. I want to thank the US Government and the US Embassy in Georgia for this. I would also like to thank the company Gilead, without which it would have been impossible to even dream of solving this problem. Today, more than 7,000 patients are involved in the program and more than 3,000 have completed the treatment," Kvirikashvili said.

The program’s second phase aims to treat up to 20,000 patients annually.

American pharmaceutical company Gilead, which produces the highly effective but costly Sovaldi and Harvoni tablets at €110,000 per person for one course, provides pills free of charge to Georgian citizens as test market patients.

Georgia’s Health Minister Davit Sergeenko has emphasized that the Harvoni tablet is a new Hepatitis C medication combining Sofosbuvir and Ledipasvir, which provides nearly a 100 percent cure.

Patient-reported Outcomes in Asian Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Treated With Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir.

Abstract

Prevalence of chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) infection in patients of Asian ancestry ranges between 1% and 20%. Interferon (IFN)- and ribavirin (RBV)-containing regimens for CH-C have a negative impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) during treatment.The aim of this study was to assess the impact of IFN-free RBV-free sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimens on PROs in CH-C patients of Asian ancestry.In this observational retrospective study, the PRO data from 12 multicenter multinational phase 3 clinical trials (2012-2015, conducted in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand) of SOF-based regimens with and without IFN, ledipasvir (LDV), and/or RBV were used. At baseline, during treatment, and post-treatment, patients completed 4 validated PRO questionnaires (SF-36, CLDQ-HCV, FACIT-F, and WPAI:SHP). The resulting PROs in Asian patients were compared across the treatment regimens.Of 4485 of the trials' participants, 106 patients were of Asian ancestry (55.7% male, 69.8% treatment-naïve, 17.0% cirrhotic). In comparison with other patients, the Asian CH-C cohort was younger, had lower BMI, and lower rates of pre-treatment psychiatric comorbidities (anxiety, depression, sleep disorders) (all P < .05). At baseline, Asian patients also had lower SF-36 physical functioning scores (on average, by -5.6% on a normalized 0-100% PRO scale, P = .001). During treatment, Asian CH-C patients experienced a decline in their PRO scores while receiving IFN and/or RBV-containing regimens (up to -19.6%, P < .001). In contrast, patients receiving LDV/SOF experienced no PRO decrement and improvement of some PRO scores during treatment (+9.0% in general health of SF-36, P = .03). After achieving SVR-12, some of the PRO scores in Asian patients improved regardless of the regimen (up to +9.3%, P < .001). In multivariate analysis of Asian patients, the use of LDV/SOF was independently associated with higher PRO scores during and soon after the end of treatment (betas +15.0% to +29.3%, all P < .05). Other predictors of PRO impairment included depression, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cirrhosis.The use of IFN- and RBV-free LDV/SOF regimens leads to PRO improvement in Asian patients with CH-C during treatment. Achieving SVR-12 results in improvement of PRO scores.

Doctor questioned for HCV spread found dead

The director of the Hanyang Orthopedic Clinic in Wonju, Gangwon, who was being investigated for possible connection to the spread of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), was found dead Friday, hanging in a bathroom at his house.

The wife of the director found her husband, surnamed Rho, hanging in the bathroom and reported it to police at 7:50 a.m. on Friday, police in Wonju said. Rho was transported to a hospital but did not survive. No note or last will was found.

The Hanyang Orthopedic Clinic was identified as the place of origin of a mass infection of hepatitis C in Wonju last year, and Rho was waiting for a second summons from police for further questioning.

Rho was first summoned by the police on Feb. 29 as a suspect in possible illegal medical procedures, which led to the mass infection of HCV. He was investigated for 10 hours in a testimony recording room with his attorney present.

The police investigated whether Rho reused syringes used in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, which utilizes platelets from patient’s own blood to rebuild damaged tendon or cartilage, leading to the spread of HCV. The police have also been questioning about 30 nurses and assistant nurses who worked at the clinic and participated administering the treatment.

Last April, after a series of hepatitis C infections were reported among patients who underwent PRP treatment at the Hanyang Orthopedic Clinic, Rho closed the clinic a month later and moved to another hospital.

“We will continue our investigation on other workers of the clinic,” said a police officer. “As the doctor in question is dead, we will end further investigation against him.”

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has examined 1,545 patients who had visited the clinic and announced that as of Feb. 24, 217 patients had been infected with HCV.

The Wonju government has put together a special team to conduct an epidemiologic study of the mass infection.

Among the infected patients, 95 people tested positive for hepatitis C RNA, meaning they immediately needed treatment. Some have recovered after receiving treatment.

However, the closure of the clinic, and now the death of Rho, makes it difficult for the police to investigate the causal link between the clinic’s possible illicit activities and the mass infection, which will in turn make it difficult for infected patients to seek compensation.

Health camp organised

Jiribam, Mar 6: A two-day medical camp on detection of hepatitis C & B and HIV organised by 27 AR, Child Welfare Ashram (CWA) and Jiribam Community Health Centre has commenced at Jiribam CHC today, reports our correspondent.
Sponsored by Abbott India Ltd, detection of Hepatitis C & B and HIV were conducted on nearly 200 people on the first day of the camp.

Specialists stress need for research-based cure

Intl conference on Gastroenterology, Hepatology concludes
Staff Reporter
Rawalpindi—Thirty second conference of Pakistan society of Gastroenterology concluded here Sunday. The national and international leaders in the field participated.
The experts discussed , the current investigations and treatment of common liver and digestive diseases President Pakistan society of Gastroenterology highlighted the problems faced by the patients and specialists.
He briefed the participants about the current standard of training of gastroenterologists in Pakistan .He mentioned the ways and means to improve training Pakistan. Among the international speakers, Professor CARLOCk discussed the management of stones in the gallbladder and common bile duct, a tube which goes from the gallbladder to the small intestine.
Dr Saad Niaz discussed the treatment of Pancreatitis. He stressed the need for endoscopic treatment versus conservative management of pancreatic problems. Prof Cihan Yurydaydin from turkey discussed the management of chronic Hepatitis B.
He talked about duration of treatment and its importance in eradicating the virus , reversing the damage to the liver and subsequently arresting the progression to Liver cancer.
Prof Wasim Jafri discussed the new treatment of Hepatitis C , with “new Pill” Sovaldi”. He appreciated the fast pace development of new oral pill and its implications. He urged the government to ensure quality control about the newly manufactured pills in Pakistan.
”It is very good step indeed, but needs vigilance about quality ,efficacy and safety of these local made medicine for Hepatitis C treatment. Professor Saaed Hamid traced the history of hepatitis C treatment and welcomed the new Oral combination treatment .
However he cautioned about haste and excitement about this treatment. “It will take some time to have appropriate right combination of all oral pill treatment for hepatitis C. Brigadier Amjad Salamat Chairman Organizing Committee said there was need for team work of all doctors in Pakistan. They should share their expertise and local research in the field of Gastroenterology.

Petition says ‘Treat prisoners with hep C’

A coalition of groups is collecting signatures on an appeal to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf “to see to it that everyone with the hep C virus should get the cure — those in prison, too.” The organizations are all active in the movement to free renowned political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, who is suffering from the effects of the hepatitis C virus, as are thousands of other prisoners. An estimated 22.1 percent of women and 12.8 percent of men in New York State prisons are infected with HCV, according to the Women in Prison Project. Signed cards and letters will be delivered to Wolf’s office at the end of a protest march in Philadelphia on Friday, April 22.

To Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf:

We call on you to make the cure for hepatitis C possible for thousands of Pennsylvanians infected with this virus, including up to 10,000 in Pennsylvania prisons and 45,000 in Philadelphia. There is a cure that is 95 percent effective, but Gilead Sciences charges up to $94,500 for the 12-week-long treatment with Sovaldi or Harvoni. Thousands are being denied the hep C cure by Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, personal medical insurers and the PA Department of Corrections. In 2015, while many people were suffering and dying from cirrhosis or cancer of the liver because they didn’t have the means to pay the steep price for the cure, Gilead made an obscene $17 billion in profits.

As we informed you in petitions last year, political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal almost died from hepatitis C complications. The DOC spent over $160,000 treating Abu-Jamal’s hep C symptoms but refuses to provide him with the available cure. The cost of the DOC’s refusal to cure the disease when first detected is not only immeasurable in suffering and loss of lives of state prisoners but leads to higher financial expenses as the disease is allowed to develop into cirrhosis or cancer of the liver. We ask you to make the DOC’s hep C protocol a guide for treatment and eradication of HCV, not a manual for the denial of care. Prisoners with untreated hep C unknowingly bring this deadly disease back to their communities — often to neighborhoods with poor access to quality health care.

HCV is a greater threat to Pennsylvania residents than HIV, Ebola or Zika. Countries such as Egypt and India are providing the hep C cure to their patients for a tiny fraction of the cost in this country. Why not Pennsylvania? Governor Wolf, it is your job to see to it that everyone with the hep C virus should get the cure — those in prison, too.

For prisoners like Mumia Abu-Jamal, untreated hepatitis C is a death sentence. The Pennsylvania DOC’s refusal to fully treat Abu-Jamal and other prisoners is a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. In light of the PA DOC’s refusal to provide the cure to HCV, we therefore call on you to release Mumia Abu-Jamal and all other prisoners needlessly suffering from untreated hepatitis C.

Holiday time delaying crackdown on fake medicine

A health official on leave is causing a hold-up in the government’s response to counterfeit hepatitis medication.
The Food and Drug Administration said is waiting for approval to clampdown on the distribution of fake pills in the wake of a World Health Organization alert sent out at the end of February.
“We got information from the WHO and planned to respond quickly to this alert but we still do not have any permission from the health department of the Ministry of Health yet,” Dr Theingi Zin, director of drug control at the FDA, told The Myanmar Times.
She said the FDA wants to issue a public alert about the drugs through state media outlets.
“This is a really big issue because patients are buying and taking this medicine to help their disease but according to the WHO alert this medicine is fake,” she added.
The WHO warned hepatitis C patients to avoid the drug brands “Ledso” and “Dakavir”. The medications were packaged in bottles that listed the manufacturer as a pharmaceutical company named PHARCO based in Alexandria, Egypt. The company denied making drugs under either name or in the combination of compounds listed on the bottles.
The WHO said it was notified about the falsified drugs by a local NGO, but would not disclose the name of the organisation. The local group had directly contacted the Department of Essential Medicines & Health Products at the WHO headquarters to report the presence of fake drugs in Myanmar.
Dr Theingi Zin said that neither the counterfeit medicines nor the Egyptian pharmaceutical company are registered with health authorities in Myanmar.
“We think that if we check for this medicine at pharmacies we won’t find it. We believe it is being distributed privately through doctors, so it will be very difficult to discover the medication,” she said.
She added that the health authorities will have to approach healthcare professionals and large pharmacies to inform them about this fake drug and ensure they do not sell it.
When The Myanmar Times called the health department at the Ministry of Health about the plan to stop the fake drugs from circulating, an official said the relevant spokesperson was also on leave.

15 lakh Hepatitis C affected patients

     Summary: The move will benefit as many as 15 lakh Hepatitis C affected patients in state. Lucknow: The best medicine to treat Hepatitis C would soon be available at a rate lower than market at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).The institute has integrated the medicine in its list of essential medicines and has initiated tender process for bulk procurement. "The exact difference in price would be clear after tendering process, but competitive bidding and bulk orders are the reason behind low price of medicines sold here," an accounts department officer stated. However, sale of medicine would be allowed to patients undergoing treatment at SGPGIMS.Head of gastroentrology department, Prof VA Sarawast, said the medicine is called sofosbuvir.The process is being moderated by the hospital revolving fund authorities, who estimated that the medicine could be 35-45% cheaper than the market price.

Lucknow: The best medicine to treat Hepatitis C would soon be available at a rate lower than market at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).The institute has integrated the medicine in its list of essential medicines and has initiated tender process for bulk procurement. The move will benefit as many as 15 lakh Hepatitis C affected patients in state. However, sale of medicine would be allowed to patients undergoing treatment at SGPGIMS.Head of gastroentrology department, Prof VA Sarawast, said the medicine is called sofosbuvir.The process is being moderated by the hospital revolving fund authorities, who estimated that the medicine could be 35-45% cheaper than the market price."The exact difference in price would be clear after tendering process, but competitive bidding and bulk orders are the reason behind low price of medicines sold here," an accounts department officer stated..