Meanwhile, in the capital, Yerevan, MSF continues to run a project to address the high prevalence of hepatitis C, a disease affecting 4 percent of the population, one of the highest rates in the region. In close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and local municipalities, we support testing and treatment at Arshakunyats polyclinic. The project aims to reduce the incidence of hepatitis C and improve health outcomes for patients diagnosed with the disease, including people in prisons, who are particularly vulnerable to infection.
In April, the clinic inaugurated a unit designed to meet the specific and sometimes neglected needs of key communities. In this unit, MSF focuses on offering hepatitis C care to men who have sex with men, people who engage in sex work, and people who use drugs. We implement a ‘one-stop-shop’ model which integrates screening, diagnosis, treatment, and support services in a single, stigma-free location to streamline care and encourage treatment adherence.
