WHO: Egypt Successfully Eliminated Hepatitis C Virus with Local Medicines

The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Egypt, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, has lauded the Egyptian experience in vaccine production, stating that it successfully eliminated the Hepatitis C virus completely. The secret to its success lies in the fact that Egypt produced the treatment locally, making it accessible to all infected people and allowing companies to produce the Hepatitis C drug at affordable prices. Abid emphasized the importance of localizing vaccine production during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, citing the unfair distribution of vaccines.

He also highlighted the World Health Organization's call for vaccine localization in combating pandemics and health emergencies. Egypt has a 120-year history of vaccine production, and with its capabilities, it can produce and export vaccines. The African Center for Disease Control has developed a plan to produce 60% of vaccines in Africa by 2040, but challenges remain, especially with political will and funding. With the right approach, however, Egypt's human capabilities and available factors make it possible to achieve this goal.