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A new dashboard – the first to examine the prevalence and response to hepatitis in the African region of the World Health Organization (WHO) – shows that only three of the 47 countries are on track Eliminate the disease that affects one in 15 people in the area. Dying viral hepatitis in Africa becomes a more serious threat than dying from AIDS, malaria or tuberculosis.
"This badysis is the first to track every country in the region and to evaluate progress made with the goal of saving the lives of more than two million Africans susceptible to developing B or C progressive liver disease during of the next decade if countries fail to develop their efforts, "says Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
The scorecard will be presented at the first African Summit on Hepatitis to be held in Kampala, Uganda, from 18 to 20 June.
It provides essential information on the state of the regional response to hepatitis, measuring progress against the Framework for Action for the Prevention, Treatment and Care of Hepatitis in the African region (2016-2020). It was created to guide Member States in the implementation of the global health sector strategy against viral hepatitis, which advocates the elimination of hepatitis by 2030 (defined as a reduction of 90% of new cases and 65% of deaths).
Every year, more than 200,000 people in Africa die from hepatitis B and hepatitis C-related liver diseases, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Sixty million people in the WHO African Region were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2015. More than 4.8 million of them are children under five years old. Another 10 million people are infected with hepatitis C, probably because of unsafe injecting practices in health facilities or communities.
The badysis shows that 28 countries have developed a national strategic plan for the fight against viral hepatitis; however, most are still in draft form and only 13 are officially published and disseminated. WHO has been a major partner in the regional response by developing policies and providing technical and financial support, as well as capacity building for a coordinated regional response.
Only 15% (7/47) of countries are conducting prevention efforts with national coverage of birth dose for hepatitis B and pentavalent vaccination for children greater than 90%. Hepatitis screening and treatment have significant shortcomings, with fewer than eight countries offering subsidized testing and treatment for viral hepatitis. Uganda has started free hepatitis B treatment at the national level and Rwanda provides free treatment for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Both countries are champions of the regional response and are in the process of meet the 2020 Framework targets for community-based screening and awareness.
The administration of hepatitis B vaccine at birth and early childhood is the most effective way to stop the transmission of the virus because 95% of chronic diseases are due to infections in children, contracted before their birth. fifth birthday, including the mother -the transmission of children.
Despite the low cost of vaccination at birth (less than $ 0.20 per child), only 11 countries in the region follow this protocol. Cabo Verde is one of those countries where the government mobilized financial resources and achieved 99% vaccination coverage at birth.
In Uganda, where more than 6% of the population is infected, the commitment to end hepatitis infection was motivated by civil society and strong political will, which made it one of the first African countries to fund national actions against hepatitis B.
With investments of about US $ 3 million a year, Uganda has embarked on a comprehensive free hepatitis B screening program in 2015, in conjunction with a broad mobilization of community and awareness-raising actions. More than four million people have been screened. More than 30% of the population infected with hepatitis B is now aware of its status and can access comprehensive treatment services, including free medications. This performance exceeds the 2020 target for screening and awareness. However, much remains to be done to achieve treatment goals.
"The first African Summit on Hepatitis should be held in Uganda," said Dr Moeti. "The country has great lessons to share and we support these important exchanges as they contribute to evidence-based policy making and the promotion of partnerships for more concerted action against viral hepatitis." In the region. They show us that it is possible to fight this disease. "
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