August 29, 2022
Globally, viral hepatitis affects millions of people across the globe and a person dies every 30 seconds from a hepatitis related illness. As a result, there is a need to raise awareness of the dangers posed, as well as push for access to testing and treatment for all people. World Hepatitis Day, which was marked in July, is one such way to raise awareness. This year’s theme, “Hepatitis can’t wait”, highlighted the need to accelerate the fight against viral hepatitis, and the importance of testing and treatment for people who need it.
Celebrations in Kenya
World Hepatitis Day in Kenya was marked by a walk in Nairobi organized by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCOP). Members of the public and representatives from health stakeholder organizations walked from Afya House to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi. Here, after speeches from organizational representatives, free testing and vaccination was conducted on KNH grounds. Some of the organizations present included the World Health Organization, Médecins sans Frontières, MoH, Nairobi Metropolitan Services, and KNH.
Hepatitis In Africa
Almost 90% of people with hepatitis are unaware that they are infected. Hepatitis A, B, and C are the most common of the viral hepatitis in Africa, with the African region accounting for 26% of the global burden for hepatitis B and Cin 2020. Only 14 African countries have achieved >2% hepatitis C prevalence. Kenya has a low hepatitis B prevalence of 2.2% but carries a high burden of hepatitis C carriers in demographics such as people who inject drugs. The cost of testing is also currently more than that of treatment, which is a barrier to effective hepatitis control.
There have been strides made in the fight against hepatitis, with Kenya having adopted national guidelines on hepatitis. Hepatitis B treatment has been made available at medically assisted therapy clinics, which serves people who inject drugs, a demographic at high risk for viral hepatitis infection. KNH has made great strides in hepatitis B prevention and liver treatment, with MoH and partners working to ensure better access to primary healthcare to those chronically infected with hepatitis. Through improved services and awareness creation in Kenya, Africa, and the world, we will be one step closer to ending hepatitis by 2030.
Contact
Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity
Institute of Human Virology
Anthony Okoth
Regional Communications Specialist
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