Globally, an estimated 58 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus infection. But experts often speak about the missing millions when it comes to hepatitis, people - adults and children alike - who are unaware that they are living with viral hepatitis. In Malaysia, latest data from 2019 estimated that more than 400,000 individuals have been infected with the hepatitis C virus, but only about 1% have been treated. Now Malaysia has also become one of the first countries to begin a self-testing programme to identify people who belong to those missing millions. To find out more about the new pilot study that is happening, we speak to Sonjelle Shilton, the hepatitis lead of FIND, a global alliance for diagnostics.

For updates on the study, you can follow Jom Test or the Malaysian AIDS Council.

Image source: Shutterstock 

Produced by: Lim Sue Ann

Presented by: Lim Sue Ann

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Categories:  Health Policy,  Diseases & Conditions,  Mental Health,  Healthy Living,  Fitness,  Medical Innovation and Technology,  Science

Tags:  The Bigger Picture,  Health & Living,  hepatitis C,  self-tests,  liver cancer,  liver cirrhosis,  HIV,  viral hepatitis,