Amany Zekry - Assoc Professor [ 30/Jan/17 ]
Post date: Jan 28, 2017 11:20:36 PM
Jerry Guirguis interviews Associate Professor Amany Zekry, Clinical Academic at St George, Prof Zekry is a Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, leading a research group on Liver disease in hepatitis C Virus [ HCV ], A/Professor Zekry will be speaking to us on 96.5FM – Egyptian radio show,
Melbourne, English edition [ Monday 30 January 2017, 8:30pm AEDT ].
Associate Professor Amany Zekry
St George Clinical School Operating
a.zekry@unsw.edu.au
02 - 9113 2817
In Australia 1.4% of our Australian Popn. in 2013 = 230,000 have Hep C Virus,
Before 1st Jan 2017, costs were at $3,000 per treatment x 230,000 = $690 million
The burden of HCV in Australia has been increasing since 2013 and will continue till 2030
Australian Federal Government has allocated $1billion to cure those with Hep C Virus
From 1st Jan 2017, oral medication is now available on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme [ PBS ]
a GP & Consultant will be required to approve the antiviral treatment;
Direct-acting antiviral [ DAA ] medicines available on the PBS
Interferons (IFNs) are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several pathogens,
such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and also tumor cells. ...
Interferons are named for their ability to "interfere" with viral replication by protecting cells from virus infections.
At the end of 2014, there were an estimated 230,000 people in Australia living with chronic hepatitis C (hep C).
As recent as 2014, an estimated 5,400 new hep C infections occurred annually.
around 4 per cent involve other blood-to-blood contact such as unsterile tattooing and body piercing.
Community Education, Awareness & Events
Health promotion staff , Community Workers,
Screening
Patient support programs
Language delivery, Culture difference , Female to male patient assistance
Phone support, Adherence and failure to meet therapy requirements
Doctors / Consultants
PBS & other costs , Length of treatment 12 weeks / 24 weeks support
Treatment outcome
General practitioners, Pharmacies
Primary nurses care Nurses,
Allied Health workers, policy officers , gastroenterologists,
researchers, educators.
Associate Professor Amany Zekry is a Clinical Academic at St George hospital / University of NSW.
She is a Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at St George Hospital , IIRC [ International Integrated Reporting Council ]
She leads a research group investigating liver disease in hepatitis C virus and in obesity related liver disease (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease).
A new ORAL medicine for treating Hepatitis C is now available on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - PBS from 1st Jan 2017.
20% of Egyptian Popn. [ ~ 15 million with 90% that have Hep C Virus
Systemic health service failure some 30 years ago in Egypt may have been the cause for Hep C Virus epidemic, in Australia recent diagnoses of Hep C Virus genotype 4 which is the most common viral sub-type in Egyptian patients in Australia;
Initial findings was centred on Vaccination, but It wasn’t just sharing of vaccination equipment between patients some 30 years ago in Egypt that has caused the spread of this virus,
Remembering, there were no disposal needles back then, but what helped the infection spread alarmingly,
1] Why was the needles sterilization process wasn’t given enough time to complete it’s sterilization cycle
2] Blood donor programs in Egypt failed in their duty of patient care,
Why wasn’t there through screen of donors before giving blood
3] Why did they use Dialysis machines before thoroughly sterilizing it before the next patient ?
Hi Amany, thank you for accepting our invitation to be on our 96.5FM – Egyptian radio show,
can we start with ......................
In Australia 2013, 1.4% of Popn. = 230,000 patients are diagnosed with Hep C Virus [ mainly type 1 and type 3 ]
Q1] How many of those 230,000 patients in Australia are treated for Hep C Virus Genotype 4 ?
~ 1% = 2,300 ~ ?
Q2] Do people go on living with Hep C not knowing they carry the disease ?
Q3] Should all Egyptians in Australia get checked for Hep C Virus at their local doctor ?
Q4] Patients with past Liver issues [ Liver Decomposed ]
Patients with past Kidney issues [ Renal ]
Pregnancy
Cirrhosis [ Scarring of the liver ]
Drug-Drug interactions
Where do we go for more help & info;
Hepatits Australia http://www.hepatitisaustralia.com [ ph. 1800 437 222 ]
GESA - Gastroenterological Society of Australia
ASHM - The Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM )
CD copy of this interview can be requested by email to: [ Jerry.Guirguis@gmail.com ]
Jerry Guirguis
Presenter
96.5FM - Egyptian radio show
0400 718 817
https://sites.google.com/site/jerryguirguis
Studio : 03 9457 1718