Шотландский проект DESTINE помог Эфиопии выявить реальную распространенность гепатита С и разработать стратегию его искоренения

A ground-breaking Scottish health project could help Ethiopia move closer to eliminating hepatitis C. Led by researchers in Dundee, the four-year DESTINE project brought together experts from the University of Dundee, Ethiopia and Bristol to support the Ethiopian government in tackling the bloodborne virus. The £2.2 million project was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and focused on improving testing, care pathways and treatment for hepatitis C across Ethiopia. The work builds on the success of a programme in Tayside, where hepatitis C was eliminated by focusing on people at highest risk, particularly people who inject drugs, alongside needle exchange programmes and increased testing and treatment. DESTINE has recommended targeted testing, more reliable diagnostics and greater knowledge sharing to help Ethiopia develop a similar approach. Pilot schemes are now underway to assess focused testing among at-risk populations. The project also carried out Ethiopia's first national hepatitis C survey. Researchers found that the prevalence of the virus was significantly lower than previously estimated, at around a tenth of earlier estimates. However, higher infection rates were identified among people with a history of medical interventions such as blood transfusions. Hepatitis C can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer if left untreated. The findings are being used to help guide future testing and treatment strategies in Ethiopia, with the team hoping the work will contribute to the country's efforts to meet the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030. The project involved universities in Addis Ababa, Gondar and Jimma, alongside the Armauer Hansen Research Institute and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. It also helped strengthen research capacity in Ethiopia, with six PhD candidates enrolled during the programme. Read more Professor John Dillon, who led the collaboration, said: "Hepatis C is a cruel and deadly disease. While replicating the success we had in Tayside may take time, it is not impossible that we can one day effectively eliminate Hepatitis C in Ethiopia." Professor Peter Vickerman, DESTINE co-investigator at the University of Bristol, said: "Although we have discovered the prevalence of HCV is lower than first estimated, there are still large numbers of infections in Ethiopia which will cause considerable morbidity. The evidence we produced in our project is important for guiding targeted testing strategies to diagnose and treat people with HCV in Ethiopia." The Ethiopian Ministry of Health described the study as "impressive and remarkable" and welcomed it as a foundation for future collaboration. Professor Wondwossen Amogne, joint chief investigator at Addis Ababa University, said: "To our knowledge this is the only multisectoral research project in Ethiopia with six PhD candidates enrolled while exploring the virology, public health and clinical aspects of HCV. It has successfully completed mainly due to efficient project management and collaborative team members."