The World Health Organization designated 28 July as World Hepatitis Day. 200,000 people are infected with the Hepatitis C virus in Georgia. Diagnosis and treatment of this disease is expensive. In recent years, the government has taken effective steps towards increasing access to treatment. Aprogram offering free Hepatitis C virus treatment for inmates began on March 1, 2014. t is possible to purchase drugs at discounted prices from July 1, 2014. However, this is still not proper access to treatment for most patients. Patients and non-governmental organizations are organizing a campaign around this issue. The major goal of the campaign is to increase accessibility to free diagnosis and treatment of Hepatitis C in Georgia.
Events that will be held within the framework of the campaign are:
On July 28, 2014, Monday, a round table conference will be held in Tbilisi, at the “Courtyard Marriot” Hotel. The participants will be greeted by the representatives of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Assistance, as well as those of the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, patients and non-governmental organizations. Similar events will be held on July 28 in Gori and Zugdidi, on July30 in Batumi.
The campaign will be implemented in the form of a mock elections rally on July 28, at 17:00. In Tbilisi, a rally will be held in front of the old building of the parliament. Similar rallies will be held in Gori, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Ozurgeti and Batumi. During the mock elections, patients and their supporters will vote for life at a specially organized polling station. With this action, citizens will express their support for the free diagnosis and treatment program.
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For more information about the rally, round table (including regions), the tour and concert, please contact the following persons:
Tbilisi, Marina Asatiani – Cell phone: 599119999 Email: marinaasatiani@yahoo.com
Gori, Ketevan Bidzinashvili – Cell phone: 599370255; Email: nabiji02@gmail.com
Kutaisi, Zaza Karchkhadze – Cell phone: 597400705; Email: karchkhadzezaza@mail.ru
Zugdidi, Nino Janashia – Cell phone: 599719757; Email: ninojanashia@yahoo.com
Ozurgeti, Enri Maminashvili – Cell phone: 592343007; Email: enri-maminashvili@mail.ru
Batumi, Natia Kharati – Cell phone: 599502512; Email: natiakharati@yahoo.com
