WHO Collaborating Center for viral hepatitis and HIV

On March 3, 2021 the unit of HIV / AIDS and other sexually or blood-borne infections at the Robert Koch Institute was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to WHO Collaborating Center for viral hepatitis and HIV. As a WHO collaborating center, the RKI, together with national and international partners, supports the WHO in the fight against viral hepatitis and the elimination of hepatitis B and C as well as the containment of HIV in the WHO European region.

In the Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis and 2015 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the WHO calls for the fight against viral hepatitis and the elimination of hepatitis B and C by 2030 as well as the containment of HIV. In 2016, the countries of the WHO European Region adopted a joint action plan to eliminate viral hepatitis as the public health threat by 2030. Viral hepatitis and HIV are therefore high on the health policy agenda worldwide.

As the WHO Collaborating Center for viral hepatitis and HIV, the RKI will have the following areas of responsibility:

1. To assist WHO in supporting Member States in developing methodology, planning, conducting and analyzing epidemiological surveys on hepatitis B and C and HIV in different population groups;
2. To support WHO in assessing viral hepatitis B and C and HIV/AIDS monitoring, control and elimination in the countries of WHO European Region.

The new WHO CC will contribute to the efficient implementation of the WHO Sustainable Development Goals.

Activities within the framework of WHO CC:

• Preparation of Serosurveys to evaluate hepatitis B vaccination impact in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Sero-B)
• Assessing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on viral hepatitis B and C elimination efforts in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COVIMPACT Hepatitis)
• Desk review of the Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveys (IBBS) for Key Populations in the selected countries of the WHO European Region

The new WHO CC is located in unit 34 (HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections) and the activities are carried out in close cooperation with unit 33 (Immunization), unit 15 (Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis Pathogens and Enteroviruses), unit 18 (HIV and other retroviruses) and ZIG (Center for International Health Protection).

Heads of the WHO CC for viral hepatitis and HIV

Dr. Viviane Bremer, MPH, Head of unit 34: HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections

Sandra Dudareva, MD, MSSc, MSAE, FG 34: HIV/AIDS, STI and Blood-borne Infections