In February 2023, on World Cancer Day 2023, ELPA Board was invited to Mansura, Egypt, by Prof Dr Gamal Shiha, ELPA Director and CEO of the Association of Liver Patients’ Care, ELPA founder member. They had the occasion of visiting: the Egyptian Liver Research Institute, the Technical Institute of Nursing, the Smart Biomaterials research centre and the Egyptian Liver Hospital (ELRIAH), where a medical staff of about 500 people care for around 50,000 patients per year.
The Egyptian association has been doing a remarkable job in fighting liver diseases working with multidisciplinary teams and establishing a multi-stakeholder approach, collaborating with the Ministry of Health, scientists, government bodies, corporate industry, local governments and local businesses.
The association also achieved one of the most remarkable goals in Hepatitis elimination. With the micro-elimination project “HepCFreeVillages”, the organisation managed to reach 106 villages, screen 350,000 people, detecting and treat 15,000 people for HCV.
This was a great learning opportunity and a fruitful possibility to share experience and knowledge.
ELPA is grateful for Prof. Gamal and his team’s hospitality.