Egypt 

Acute gastrointestinal (GI) haemorrhage is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide and is one of the most common gastrointestinal emergencies in Egypt.¹ Common causes of acute GI bleeding are bleeding varices and peptic ulcers.^{1, 2} Chronic Hepatitis C is an important cause of variceal bleeding and is endemic in Egypt, with a prevalence reaching 15-20% of the Egyptian population (the highest in the world). ^{1, 2}

Among patients with GI bleeding mortality is about 10%.^{1, 3}  Other consequences of severe GI bleeding include need for surgical interventions and blood transfusions which are not always available or safe. A simple cost-effective treatment to reduce blood loss could prevent many thousands of premature deaths and improve outcomes in patients with GI bleeding in Egypt and worldwide.

For further information, please refer to the HALT-IT Egypt protocol