Prevention and control of Viral Hepatitis in Albania and the neighbouring countries: lessons learnt and the way forward.

October 27-28, 2016- Tirana, Albania

Meeting objectives:

  • Provide an overview of surveillance systems for viral hepatitis and infectious diseases;
  • Review the epidemiological situation on viral hepatitis;
  • Give an overview of the current prevention and control measures on viral hepatitis;
  • Discuss the progress achieved in hepatitis prevention before and after GAVI support in Albania.
  • Review the possible implementation of new prevention strategies, control measures and monitoring systems
  • Discuss the development and the implementation of a National hepatitis plan;
  • Discuss how Albania can implement a viral hepatitis prevention and control plan, can Balkan countries learn from each other;
  • Evaluate what is still needed to achieve the viral hepatitis elimination goals defined by WHO’s Regional office for Europe
  • Discuss the successes, issues and barriers to overcome, and the way forward.

Background document  - 2.9 Mb (.pdf)

Thursday 27 October

SESSION 1: OPENING AND OBJECTIVES
Chairs: Daniel Lavanchy and Silvia Bino

09:00-09:30

  • Welcome and opening Introduction of the participants
  • Introduction of the VHPB
  • Objectives of the meeting:
  • Review of the meeting programme

WELCOME BY Deputy Minister of Health - Klodjan Rrjepaj Rector of Medical University - Arben Gjata Director of Institute of Public Health - Arjan Bregu

 

SESSION 2: THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN ALBANIA

09:30-09:50 Organisation and funding of the health care system in Albania
Alketa Hila

09:50- 10:05 Discussion

10:05 - 10:30 Coffee break

 

SESSION 3: SURVEILLANCE, SCREENING AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF VIRAL HEPATITIS IN ALBANIA
Chairs: Vladimir Chulanov and Helene Norder

10:30-10:50 Epidemiology and outbreaks of Hepatitis A in Albania  - 306 Kb (.pdf)
Elona Kureta

10:50-11:10 Epidemiology of Hepatitis B and C in Albania  - 152 Kb (.pdf)
Mimoza Basho

11:10 - 11:25 Discussion

 

SESSION 4: HEPATITIS IN DIFFERENT RISK GROUPS

11:25-11:45 Viral Hepatitis in Blood Donors - 572 Kb (.pdf)
Vjollca Duro

11:45-12:05 Monitoring viral Hepatitis and HIV in dialysis and multiple blood transfusion persons
- 616 Kb (.pdf)
Eugena Tomini

12:05-12:25 Viral Hepatitis and HIV in IDUs, MSM, sex workers and Roma population - BioBSS study
- 88 Kb (.pdf)
Roland Bani

12:25 – 12:40 Discussion

12:40 - 13:45 Lunch

 

SESSION 5: HEPATITIS BURDEN OF DISEASE IN ALBANIA
Chairs: Francoise Roudot-Thoraval and Daniel Shouval

13:45-14:05 Chronic viral Hepatitis and liver diseases in Albania - 748 Kb (.pdf)
Adriana Babameto

14:05-14:25 Availability of diagnostics and treatment modalities for hepatitis B in Albania. Experiences of infectious disease clinic - 332 Kb (.pdf)
Arjan Harxhi

14:25-14:45 Public health programs and viral hepatitis control and treatment- 747 Kb (.pdf)
Silvia Bino

14:45 - 15:00 Discussion

 

SESSION 6: CIVIL SOCIETY CREATING AWARENESS

15:00-15:20 Overview of Awareness/Advocacy activities organised in Albania and the neighbouring countries - 2.5 Mb (.pdf)
Milan Miskovikj

 

SESSION 7: PANEL DISCUSSION (PART1): Needs of Albanian and the neighbouring countries to reach the goals defined in the WHO European action plan.
Chairs: David Goldberg and Mark Kane

15:20-15:30 Action plan for the health sector response to viral hepatitis in the WHO European Region, goals and targets - 1.4 Mb (.pdf)
Antons Mozalevskis

15:20-16:45 Discussion on the Albanian national Hepatitis plan, lessons learnt and barriers still to overcome.
What are the needs and challenges in Albania and Neighbouring countries to achieve elimination of viral hepatitis?
Working Group 1: surveillance  - 119  Kb (.pdf)
Working Group 2: immunization  - 123 Kb (.pdf)
Working Group 3: prevention - 128  Kb (.pdf)
Working Group 4: screening  - 112  Kb (.pdf)
Working Group 5: treatment  - 123 Kb (.pdf)

 

SESSION 8: VIRAL HEPATITIS IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
Chairs: Mira Kojouharova and Johannes Hallauer

16:45-17:00 Serbia  - 197 Kb (.pdf)
Leposava Garotic.

17:00-17:15 Kosovo - 156 Kb (.pdf)
Xhevat Jakupi

17:15-17:30 Republic of Macedonia - 291 Kb (.pdf)
Victoria Chalovska

17:30 - 17:50 Discussion

 

Friday 28 October

SESSION 9: SCREENING, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF VIRAL HEPATITIS IN ALBANIA
Chairs: Alessandro Zanetti and Mojca Maticic

09:00-09:20 Hepatitis B immunization - a success story - 1.2 Mb (.pdf)
Erida Nelaj

09:20-09:40 Epidemiology and the challenge of Hepatitis B and C prevention and control in Albania - 5.9 Mb (.pdf)
Silvia Bino

09:40-10:00 Hepatitis C treatment and follow up - challenges in Albania - 2,1 Mb (.pdf)
Jovan Basho

10:00-10:20 Prevention of Hepatitis in risk groups and hepatitis and HIV in Albania - 890 Kb (.pdf))
Najada Como

10:20-10:40 Hepatitis B and C in children - challenges and prospective - 617 Kb (.pdf)
Hamide Hoxha

10:40 - 11:00 Discussion

11:00 - 11:20 Coffee break

 

SESSION 7: PANEL DISCUSSION (PART2): Needs of Albanian and the neighbouring countries to reach the goals defined in the WHO European action plan.
Chairs: Pierre Van Damme and Antons Mozalevskis

11:20-12:30 Evaluate the development and implementation of the national hepatitis plan in the countries.
What needs to be done to eliminate viral hepatitis, what is expected from International and other organisation.

12:30- 14:00 Lunch

 

SESSION 8: CONCLUSIONS OF THE MEETING
Chairs: Silvia Bino and Tatjana Reic

14:00- 15:00 Meeting conclusions - 66 Kb (.pdf)
David FitzSimons

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