ULAN BATOR, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's national health campaign "Whole-Liver Mongolia," which aims to help people learn about and fight hepatitis, entered its second phase Wednesday.
According to the World Health Organization, Mongolia has the world's highest rate of liver cancer and the highest mortality rate from the disease. A total of 2,312 people were diagnosed with liver cancer in the country last year, of which 1,416 died.
Currently, about 400,000 of Mongolia's population of 3 million are diagnosed with hepatitis B or C infections. Cirrhosis and liver cancer caused by hepatitis B and C are a major killer of Mongolian people, after heart and coronary diseases.
The campaign was launched a year ago. In its second phase, citizens aged 16-39 would get free tests for hepatitis B and C virus. The initial phase covered people aged 40-65.
"By 2020, Mongolia aims to stop new cases of hepatitis B and C, and dramatically reduce the death rate caused by liver cirrhosis and cancer," Health Minister Davaajantsan Sarangerel said.
