Source: European Union 2
Infections from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) affect liver cells causing inflammation. In their acute form, HBV and HCV infections can become chronic hepatitis disease, potentially causing cirrhosis or liver cancer.
These infections disproportionately affect socially marginalised populations, since transmission mainly occurs sexually or through the sharing of injection drugs equipment. In a few countries, infections also occur in hospitals and healthcare settings.
Here is a selection of EU4Health projects that are working to decrease the burden of viral hepatisis (HBV and HCV), HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
JA SHIELD works to decrease the mortality of cancers caused by infections and vaccine-preventable cancers, such as viral hepatitis-related liver cancer.
The Joint Action is:
- Mapping preventive measures in EU and associated countries;
- Identifying barriers slowing down implementation, with a strong focus on stigma and discrimination.
MOBHOPE is strengthening mobile health services for people at high risk of communicable diseases, especially viral hepatitis and liver health, improving primary and secondary prevention.
The project is:
- Operating mobile units that travel to urban streets, homeless shelters, prisons and migrant communities, offering on-site testing, counseling and direct links to specialised care;
- Developing training material for staff and communication tools for targeted communities;
- Developing digital data collection systems and harmonised indicators for real-time monitoring, cross-country comparison and future scalability of the model, to generate evidence-based protocols for mobile clinics across the EU.
HEP-HOP aims to improve, scale-up and evaluate community-based viral hepatitis screening, HBV vaccination services and linkage to care.
The project is:
- Addressing vaccine mis/disinformation and hesitancy among at-risk migrant and refugee populations in Belgium, Latvia and Spain;
- Training community health workers and teachers to deliver culturally and linguistically adapted outreach programmes for decentralised viral hepatitis screening and vaccination opportunities.
PACE works to reduce the burden of cancers caused by HPV and viral hepatitis (HBV, HCV) in adults and young people in European carceral settings by:
- Identifying and implementing best practices;
- Providing scalable models for prison systems that will feature in a practical replicability framework (“Prison Implementation Compass”);
- Establishing a multi-country network of prison sentinels for high-quality data collection and monitoring;
- Developing capacity-building activities to empower health professionals, prison staff and other stakeholders to sustain and scale up these interventions.
Background
EU4Health is the fourth and largest of the EU health programmes. The EU4Health programme goes beyond an ambitious response to the COVID-19 crisis to address the resilience of European healthcare systems. The programme provides funding to national authorities, health organisations and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe.
HaDEA manages the vast majority of the total EU4Health budget and implements the programme by managing calls for proposals and tenders from 2021 to 2027.