logo
Science Portal
Copyright © Médecins Sans Frontières
v2.1.5476.produseast1
About MSF Science Portal
About
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Copyright © Médecins Sans Frontières
v2.1.5476.produseast1
World Hepatitis Day 2022 | Collections | MSF Science Portal

Each year hundreds of millions of people suffer from chronic or acute liver disease caused by hepatitis viruses, and over one million die. To mark World Hepatitis Day (July 28th) we bring you a selection of MSF research exploring how to better prevent, identify and treat hepatitis infection in lower-income countries and emergency contexts where the burden is heaviest.

For example, in a South Sudanese camp for displaced people—a type of setting where poor sanitation and water quality regularly lead to hepatitis E outbreaks—MSF and the Ministry of Health (MoH) are conducting the world’s first reactive vaccination campaign against this disease, and evaluating the process and outcomes.

In Cambodia, MSF and MoH collaborators found that a simplified community-based model of care for hepatitis C was safe and highly effective in diagnosing patients and in curing them with new antiviral drugs. It was also cost-effective, according to studies in several countries and patient populations. And these new drugs were safe and effective even in patients also being treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Collection Content

Journal Article
|
Letter

The first reactive vaccination campaign against hepatitis E

Ciglenecki I, Rumunu J, Wamala JF, Nkemenang P, Duncker J,  et al.
2022-08-01 • Lancet Infectious Diseases
2022-08-01 • Lancet Infectious Diseases
Conference Material
|
Video

The first reactive mass vaccination campaign against Hepatitis E in Bentiu, South Sudan

Nesbitt RC
2022-06-21 • Epicentre Scientific Day Paris 2022
2022-06-21 • Epicentre Scientific Day Paris 2022
Journal Article
|
Research

Integrating hepatitis C treatment into multidrug-resistant TB care

Kirakosyan O, Melikyan N, Falcao J, Khachatryan N, Atshemyan H,  et al.
2022-06-21 • Public Health Action
2022-06-21 • Public Health Action
BACKGROUND
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are not widely used for patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB). We d...
Journal Article
|
Research

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in antenatal care and maternity services, Mozambique

Loarec A, Nguyen AP, Chissano M, Madeira N, Rusch B,  et al.
2021-12-02 • Bulletin of the World Health Organization
2021-12-02 • Bulletin of the World Health Organization
OBJECTIVE
To pilot an intervention on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in an antenatal care and maternity unit in Maputo, Mozambique,...
Journal Article
|
Research

Decentralised hepatitis C testing and treatment in rural Cambodia: evaluation of a simplified service model integrated in an existing public health system

Zhang M, O'Keefe D, Craig J, Samley K, Bunreth V,  et al.
2021-03-19 • Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology
2021-03-19 • Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology
BACKGROUND
Direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) has provided the opportunity for simplified models of care delivered in decentralised settings by non-special...
Journal Article
|
Research

Hepatitis C viraemic and seroprevalence and risk factors for positivity in Northwest Cambodia: a household cross-sectional serosurvey

Lynch E, Falq G, Sun C, Bunchhoeung PDT, Huerga H,  et al.
2021-02-26 • BMC Infectious Diseases
2021-02-26 • BMC Infectious Diseases
BACKGROUND
Despite a dramatic reduction in HCV drug costs and simplified models of care, many countries lack important information on prevalence and risk factors to structure effecti...
Journal Article
|
Research

Concomitant treatment of chronic hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is effective and safe

Melikyan N, Huerga H, Atshemyan H, Kirakosyan O, Sargsyants N,  et al.
2021-01-04 • Open Forum Infectious Diseases
2021-01-04 • Open Forum Infectious Diseases
We assessed effectiveness and safety of concomitant chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Of 322 M...
Journal Article
|
Research

Cost-effectiveness of screening and treatment using direct-acting antivirals for chronic Hepatitis C virus in a primary care setting in Karachi, Pakistan

Mafirakureva N, Lim AG, Khalid GG, Aslam K, Campbell L,  et al.
2020-11-04 • Journal of Viral Hepatitis
2020-11-04 • Journal of Viral Hepatitis
Despite the availability of effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, many people remain undiagnosed and untreated. We assessed the cost-e...
Journal Article
|
Research

An intensive model of care for hepatitis C virus screening and treatment with direct-acting antivirals in people who inject drugs in Nairobi, Kenya: a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis

Mafirakureva N, Stone J, Fraser H, Nzomukunda Y, Maina A,  et al.
2020-06-29 • Society
2020-06-29 • Society
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment is essential for eliminating HCV in people who inject drugs (PWID), but has limited coverage in resource-limited settings. We me...
Journal Article
|
Research

Cost and cost-effectiveness of a simplified treatment model with direct-acting antivirals for chronic hepatitis C in Cambodia

Walker JG, Mafirakureva N, Iwamoto M, Campbell L, Kim CS,  et al.
2020-05-31 • Liver International
2020-05-31 • Liver International
BACKGROUND & AIMS
In 2016, Médecins Sans Frontières established the first general population Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and treatment site in Cambodia, offering free direct-ac...
Conference Material
|
Poster

Outcomes of hepatitis C treatment in vulnerable populations co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C: Programme description, Manipur, India

Himanshu M, Lin Oo W, Cavalheiro AP, Mesic A, Shougrakpam J,  et al.
2020-05-20 • MSF Scientific Days International 2020
2020-05-20 • MSF Scientific Days International 2020

See more collections

World Hepatitis Day 2024
World Hepatitis Day 2024

Viral hepatitis is a significant cause of disease and death globally. Yet powerful new medical tools to combat hepatitis C and E still reach only a tiny fraction of people who desperately need them, especially in low-resource and emergency settings.


To mark World Hepatitis Day (July 28th) we highlight recent MSF research on making these breakthrough products more widely accessible and simpler to use.


For hepatitis C, where groundbreaking antiviral drugs can cure nearly all patients, MSF is developing comprehensive, community-based models of care that offer rapid screening, diagnosis, and treatment under one roof. In some settings programs focus on the specific needs of highly vulnerable populations, such as people living in remote areas, forcibly displaced refugees, or those co-infected with HIV or TB or who inject drugs.


Turning to prevention, MSF is exploring ways to use the Hepatitis E vaccine more effectively in areas where poor sanitation and water quality regularly lead to outbreaks. Studies in a South Sudanese camp for internally displaced people are strengthening evidence for the vaccine’s feasibility, efficacy, safety and community acceptance, especially for pregnant women and their fetuses. Another report analyzes strategies for overcoming barriers to widespread vaccine adoption.

MSF logo
Healthcare needs of older people in humanitarian settings

Globally, the number of older people is rapidly increasing, with those aged 60+ expected to more than double by 2050—yet in humanitarian crises, they remain one of the most neglected groups. Older adults often face higher risks due to chronic illnesses, mobility issues, and limited access to appropriate care, especially in low-resource or emergency settings. Despite these needs, humanitarian responses rarely prioritize them, and data on their health and mortality are often lacking.


This collection reflects MSF’s ongoing examination of its own data and practices to identify pathways toward more age-inclusive services in humanitarian crises. It includes analysis of data from MSF-supported mental health services, inpatient departments, and sexual violence services, and further offers several calls to action and reflections on why older people remain overlooked in humanitarian crises. However, MSF also acknowledges major challenges remain, including inadequate age-inclusive services, data gaps, and the need for more geriatric expertise.


Watch this space for more publications from a Lancet Healthy Longevity series on healthcare rights and needs of older people.


International Safe Abortion Day 2022
International Safe Abortion Day 2022
Unsafe abortion is a leading cause of maternal death, and the only one that is completely preventable. Yet over 30 million unsafe abortions occur each year, leading to at least 28,000 deaths and millions of serious complications—nearly all in low- and middle-income countries. MSF teams see these tragic consequences first-hand, treating thousands of patients every year with severe, potentially life-threatening effects from unsafe abortion. So in 2016 we launched a program to systematically implement safe abortion care (SAC), starting with ten pilot sites and then applying the lessons learned to scale up at projects across the globe. This Collection presents highlights of these efforts. Since our first publication on the need to provide SAC as a way of reducing maternal death and injury, several studies assessed the role of unsafe abortion in driving this suffering in specific contexts. Others described internal obstacles to providing SAC, operational solutions developed, and outcomes achieved. And we advocated for shifting towards community-led and self-managed SAC, particularly given new obstacles that emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic.
View All Collections
World Hepatitis Day 2022

World Hepatitis Day 2022