2 to 5 % diagnosed with hepatitis C' in Kuwait 

(MENAFN - Arab Times) Around two to five percent of the population in Kuwait had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting Dr Ahmad Al-Fadhli, an expert in digestive system and liver diseases.

Affirming the percentage is below the international average, Al-Fadhli revealed the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 170 million Hepatitis C cases globally.

He said around four million people in the US suffer from the disease and about 30,000 acquire it every year and 8,000 deaths have been registered.

He added one to five percent of those infected with the virus may have liver cancer 20 years after diagnosis.

Al-Fadhli also confirmed the discovery of a new Hepatitis C medicine (Victrelis) and it will be available locally within the next few weeks.

He asserted Kuwait is one of the first GCC countries to avail of the medicine, which had been approved by the concerned authorities in developed Western nations.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Ali Al-Obaidi says the Council of Ministers agreed during the meeting 13/2012 to establish a new health center for kidney cultivation in Sabah Specialist Medical Center, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Dr Al-Obaidi added that the Popular Committee raised funds worth KD 3 million for this purpose, saying this contribution from the committee reflects the existence of good human values in Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Health Promotion Department will inaugurate a new clinic for early detection of diseases in Rumaithiya Medical Center in the presence of Director of Hawally Health Zone and Director of Health Promotion Department.