This campaign aims to engage all countries across the continent, from the Argentinean Patagonia to Alaska in the USA, in conducting tests and treatments against hepatitis C. This effort will be led by Rotary in collaboration with the Association of Municipalities of São Paulo, involving the engagement of cities, states, and the federal government of each country.

 

We are allocating 1.5 million rapid hepatitis C tests to the municipalities of São Paulo. With a 1% prevalence of infected individuals in the population, this implies that a city like Campinas, for example, with a population of 1 million, should have at least 10,000 people affected. It is important to note that approximately 90% of the infected individuals are unaware of their condition, and the disease silently spreads within their bodies.

 

In this way, the rapid test, which has a very similar application to a diabetes test, emerges as a vital tool in combating the disease. The Rotary Hepatitis Eradication Group has already conducted over 1 million tests, identifying 10,000 infected individuals. Hepatitis C, which is transmitted through exposure to the blood of an infected person, can be cured with a simple treatment of two pills a day for three months. In Brazil, the entire cost of treatment is covered by the government.

 

Brazilian municipalities interested in conducting the tests, which should be carried out in high-traffic locations such as streets, bus and subway stations, can request the test kits from the Association of Municipalities of São Paulo.