World Hepatitis Day; Alarm as stakeholders join forces to curb Hepatitis with Kenya reporting 5 acute cases
The country has today joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Hepatitis Day at Kenyatta National Hospital.
This year’s theme was; “Hepatitis cannot wait”, which demonstrates the importance of the actions required to make hepatitis a non-threat to public health in both our nation and the rest of the world.
The Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth said that acute Hepatisis cases are still being reported in Western nations.
“After Nairobi confirmed 5 instances, this disease continues to spread and represents a hazard as of 2019, it was estimated that only 10.5 per cent of people with chronic hepatitis infection were aware of their status in the country, a drop in an ocean, calling for all people to unite and create awareness of the disease,” he said.
According to Amoth, Turkana, Baringo, and Migori counties have the most cases of Hepatitis with a prevalence of over 10 per cent.
The ongoing research further demonstrates that this is caused by conservative piercings and markings practice including circumcision.
The World Health Organisation in the African Region today announced the 2021 scorecard for hepatitis.
In 18 nations, the prevalence of hepatitis C is greater than 1 per cent.
“Every year on July 28, people all around the world observe World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness of this “silent killer,” which claims the lives of about 125 000 people in Africa each year despite the availability of treatment,” shows WHO report.
According to the recently released Regional 2021 Hepatitis Scorecard, Kenya has a low prevalence of Hepatitis B of 1.7 per cent.
“However, we are aware that there are pockets of pandemic areas in the nation with prevalence rates of over 10 per cent in hospital settings and as high as 53 per cent among people with hepatitis B virus (HBV)/HIV co-infection. Over a million chronic Hepatitis B carriers who require care and treatment are a significant burden on the nation,” report shows.
Hepatitis C incidence across the nation is around 1per cent among the general population, but it is disproportionately endemic among drug injectors (PWIDs), with prevalence rates of 22 per cent in Mombasa and 13.0 per cent in Nairobi.
Countries must move toward decentralized care in order to achieve these lofty goals. In order to help health professionals, scale up the implementation of streamlined Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C services in accordance with the principles of Universal Health Coverage, WHO has launched specialized training materials.
WHO report that hepatitis A, B, and C are more frequent than HIV/AIDS despite being widely disregarded, and that one person worldwide dies from a hepatitis-related illness every 30 seconds.
Hepatitis is a blood-borne infection that spreads by contaminated food and drink, with a significant risk of transmission between a mother and her unborn child for hepatitis B.
Hepatitis A, B, and C are the most prevalent subtypes. The hepatitis A virus, which is prevented by vaccination, causes the highly contagious liver ailment known as hepatitis A.
Fatigue, nausea, discomfort in the abdomen, appetite loss, and low-grade fever are among the symptoms. In one to two months, the condition goes away on its own. Rest and sufficient hydration are beneficial. Hepatitis B can develop at any moment in life. Transmission is horizontal (mother to child) and vertical as well.
