|
The Strategy For Eliminating HBV.
Transmission Through Blood Transfusion
In United Arab Emirates
Dr.
Amin Hussain Al Amiri , MSc PhD.
Director , Dept. of Blood Transfusion &
Research Services
Ministry of Health – UAE.
Introduction :
Protection of the blood supply from
virus-infected donations has reached a
very high level due to effective
screening and testing with the latest
techniques. Surveillance of infectious
disease markers in the population is
important in recognizing trends in
prevalence and incidence of transfusion
related infections and gives an
opportunity to estimate the risk of an
infectious donation inadvertently
entering the blood supply.
Objectives :
The Ultimate Objectives of UAE.
Comprehensive strategy is to eliminate
the transmission of HBV through blood
and it’s components transfusion not only
by proper donors selection and up to
date screening programs for infectious
diseases but by planning to have a safe
community and future blood donors by
eliminating the transmission of the
disease that occurs during infancy and
childhood , as well as during
adolescence and adulthood by different
means that proves to be effective.
Material & Methods : The United Arab Emirates (UAE.) has
undertaken a prudent policy to prevent
the transmission of HBV. in UAE. citizen
and expatriates who live and work in UAE.
; as part of the world and W.H.O. plan
to prevent and eradicate communicable
diseases transmission.
Our Strategy to Eliminate HBV.
Transmission Includes :
Phase I Strategy : acting from 1991 to
1997
Components :
- Introduction of universal infant
immunization .
- Introduction of school children
vaccination program.
- Immunization for health care workers .
- National blood screening policy for
all donated blood and components as per
the latest international standards.
- Health education program for public ,
patients , contacts and high risk groups
.
- Regulations ( by Law ) for infected
foreign labors.
- Regulations for testing imported blood
derivates medications.
- Proper epidemiological investigation
and follow up for all positive cases.
- Implementing a pre marriage counseling
and screening program .
Phase II Strategy : acting from 1998 to
2004
Components :
- Immunization of adolescent at the
entry of secondary and high school .
- Uniformed protocol for contacts
prevention .
- Health education of the public ,
patients , contacts and high risk
groups.
- Screening health care providers .
- Establishing viral hepatitis
surveillance program (VHSP).
- Initial population – based serological
survey .
- Implementing Anti HBc Antibody test
for blood donors .
- Implementing a study for the
prevalence of HBV ,HCV and HIV. In blood
donors using NAT test as a diagnostic
method .
Results & Discussion :
The prevalence of hepatitis B virus ,
among blood donors in UAE. is low and
our study has shown a significant
decrease of HBV. infection among new and
regular blood donors in last few years .
The residual risk of infectious window
period donations entering the blood
supply in UAE. is minimal as per the
results of our recent study for the
prevalence of HBV. , HCV. and HIV. among
UAE. blood donors by using NAT. Test as
diagnostic measure.
The reduction in acute hepatitis B and
hepatitis B- associated chronic liver
disease resulting from universal infant
vaccination may not become apparent for
a number of years .
Since most HBV infections occur a among
adults , disease control could be
accelerated by vaccinating emerging at
risk populations to prevent disease
transmission .
The MOH. strategy for preventing the
transmission of HBV. in UAE. population
will show clear results and outcome in
the future by creating a healthy up
coming generation , whom are our future
blood donors .
|
