The WHO published a study last year that found unsafe injections led to up 1.7 million people infected with hepatitis B, 315,000 people infected with hepatitis C and 33,800 people infected with HIV in 2010.
The syringes the WHO is recommending for global use include a feature that prevents reuse. The organization is urging for the transition to almost exclusive use of these syringes by 2020.
Syringes without safety features cost $0.03 to $0.04 when obtained by a UN agency for a developing country, while the “smart” syringes will cost at least twice that amount, according to the report. The WHO is asking for donors, while expecting this price to fall as demand increases.
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