The State Center for Blood Transfusion (CETS) and the blood banks of the Health Services also offer tests for the rapid detection of Hepatitis C, Syphilis and HIV.
Chronic infection by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) constitutes a public health problem worldwide, due to its high prevalence and high morbidity and mortality, said Dr. Daniel Acosta Díaz de León, Secretary of Health of San Luis Potosí, Therefore, the Government of Change joins the Global Strategy of the Health Sector against Viral Hepatitis, promoted by the World Health Organization.
The National Hepatitis C Elimination Program aims to prevent new infections, reduce the burden of disease and mortality from HCV and its associated diseases (cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma), through the implementation of a strategy that considers prevention, screening and timely diagnosis, access to treatment, monitoring and evaluation, with a model centered on people and communities.
Acosta Díaz de León, mentioned that in the State, since last September 19, 2022 at the State Center for Blood Transfusion (CETS), it was agreed to implement the Program for the rapid detection of Hepatitis C, Syphilis and HIV, and during the period from September to December 2022, a total of 241 tests for Hepatitis C were applied, of which 3 were reactive; samples were sent for viral load and were negative.
For Syphilis, 241 have been performed, of which 8 were reactive; all were notified and referred to their respective units to continue the study protocol. In the case of HIV, 239 have been carried out; one came out reactive, ELISA was performed at CETS and the result was negative.
In order to expand the universe of application and meet the established goals, it was agreed to integrate the three foreign blood banks that are: Hospital General Matehuala, Hospital General Rioverde and Hospital General Ciudad Valles, for which they were provided a total of 60 tests for the first and 75 for the last two, considering the three types of tests to apply.
The populations most at risk of acquiring HCV are: men who have sex with men, people who inject or inhale drugs, people deprived of their liberty, people receiving blood, organs and tissues, people with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis and people living with HIV.