The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday that today is World Hepatitis Day and it wants to provide the local population with “correct information” about hepatitis B and hepatitis C with a series of ongoing activities.
In response to the aim of eliminating hepatitis set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the statement said, Macau has carried out a raft of prevention and control activities on chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C, including hepatitis C testing for the general population.
According to the statement, a total of 2,555 e-gifts will be given away as prizes in this week’s “Know More about Hepatitis B” online quiz game to raise residents’ awareness of hepatitis B, where participants are required to answer five questions correctly and register their Macau mobile phone number, after which they will receive an electronic red envelope redemption code via SMS, which can be redeemed from now until August 22.
The online quiz game is at the bureau’s official website www.ssm.gov.mo/hepday.
Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through blood contact, especially through needle sharing, according to the statement, which pointed out that it is a major public health problem worldwide that can cause serious diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, the statement said.
In recent years, the bureau said in the statement, it has promoted hepatitis C testing among the general population by issuing screening guidelines, providing rapid antibody testing services for the hepatitis C virus since last year and organising different activities.
According to the statement, hepatitis B is mainly spread from mother to baby at birth, or through contact with carriers’ blood or bodily fluid. The statement noted that usual social interaction such as dining together, shaking hands and hugging does not spread hepatitis B. The statement also said that studying or working together in business sectors such as hospitality, gaming, banking and F&B will not spread hepatitis B.
The statement noted that hepatitis B can lead to serious sickness, adding that as the virus cannot be eradicated once a person is infected with hepatitis B it will become a chronic disease. The statement underlined that there is no cure for hepatitis B, and in the long term the carrier might suffer from liver infection or even liver cancer.
The bureau also suggested a few ways for hepatitis B carriers to ease the situation, such as staying away from alcohol and nicotine, getting enough rest and sleep, staying optimistic, exercising, and maintaining a healthy diet.
For more information about hepatitis B and hepatitis C, call the bureau on 2870 0800 or visit the bureau’s official website at www.ssm.gov.mo/hepday.
This undated handout photo provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) yesterday shows an SSM official giving speech introducing hepatitis B and hepatitis C in a lecture room.
