Egypt’s Hepatitis C elimination initiative, known as the “100 Million Healthier Lives” campaign, has become a beacon of success for the African continent. In 2024, the country made history by becoming the first to achieve Gold-tier certification for its progress towards eliminating Hepatitis C, a milestone that stands as a model for other African nations grappling with viral hepatitis as a major public health threat.
Viral hepatitis, which ranks as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa, is on par with other critical infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. With this in mind, Egypt’s approach has become instrumental in shaping the continent’s response to the virus. The country’s successful efforts to eliminate Hepatitis C were showcased in a training initiative led by the Africa CDC, in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population.
The collaboration kicked off with a visit and pilot training program conducted by the Africa CDC in September 2022. The program was designed to equip health experts from across the African Union (AU) with the necessary tools to implement effective “screen-and-treat” strategies for Hepatitis C. Following the success of the initial phase, the second cohort in August 2023 saw experts from six AU member states—Ghana, Chad, South Sudan, Cameroon, Angola, and Senegal—undergo training to replicate Egypt’s success in their home countries. To date, 26 experts from 12 African countries have been trained under this program.
In November 2024, Africa CDC hosted its third training cohort in Cairo, gathering 31 participants from 11 African countries, including Algeria, Burundi, Ethiopia, Gambia, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, and Uganda. This intensive training featured lectures, field trips, and in-depth discussions on best practices in viral hepatitis B and C elimination initiatives, focusing on Egypt’s proven strategies.
“The training aimed to leverage Egypt’s expertise in viral hepatitis prevention and control to develop evidence-based guidance for implementing effective interventions across AU member states,” said Mohammed Abdulaziz, Head of the Africa CDC Division of Disease Control and Prevention. “This effort reflects the principles of South-South cooperation, fostering shared learning to enhance public health outcomes across the continent.”
Key lessons from Egypt’s model included its integrated “screen-and-treat” programs, robust surveillance efforts, and widespread community engagement. The participants also visited hospitals conducting sentinel surveillance, primary healthcare settings offering decentralized testing, and a pharmaceutical company manufacturing generic direct-acting antivirals for Hepatitis C. These field visits provided invaluable insights into Egypt’s comprehensive approach, which includes significant pharmaceutical support through initiatives like the Egyptian Presidential Initiative, which provides medicines to African countries in need.
Dr. René-Hubert Mendo’o Medjo, Regional Focal Point for Infectious Diseases at the Central RCC, highlighted the significant role of media in raising awareness about viral hepatitis in Egypt. He noted how Egypt’s media campaigns have helped amplify public understanding of the virus, its risks, and prevention methods, ultimately driving national efforts for elimination.
goal is to reach the global targets for viral hepatitis elimination by 2030. Through this program, the CDC is working with all 55 AU member states to establish or enhance their own national viral hepatitis programs, with the aim of strengthening the continent’s collective response to the virus.
The collaboration extends beyond training. Africa CDC has been actively working with countries like Cameroon and Madagascar to assess their capacity and readiness for viral hepatitis elimination. In November 2024, Africa CDC met with Cameroon’s Ministry of Health to understand the viral hepatitis burden in the country, and Cameroon subsequently submitted an official request for support to conduct a national seroprevalence survey among pregnant women. This effort is part of the broader “Triple Elimination” strategy, aimed at eliminating Hepatitis B, C, and HIV among pregnant women in the country.
Madagascar, a member of the third cohort of the Africa CDC-Egypt Viral Hepatitis Training Programme, is also making strides in strengthening its capacity to tackle viral hepatitis. Dr. Serge Batcho, Africa CDC’s Unit Lead of Infectious Disease, emphasized the importance of the training in Egypt, noting that Madagascar’s participation will be crucial for strengthening its strategic response to the virus.
“Egypt’s experience in viral hepatitis elimination will serve as a valuable guide for Madagascar and other African nations in their journey to achieve elimination targets,” said Dr. Batcho. “We are optimistic that the partnership with Egypt will continue to support these efforts and lead to the eventual eradication of viral hepatitis across Africa.”
As Egypt sets the stage for regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing, its success in the “100 Million Healthier Lives” campaign continues to inspire African countries to build comprehensive, sustainable programs aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis and improving public health for generations to come.
