Hepatitis is considered a global public health threat comparable in intensity to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. Yet despite the huge disease burden it causes to the population, hepatitis has largely been ignored until recently.
To increase the awareness and encourage respective country’s commitments towards ending Hepatitis, World Health Organisation (WHO) developed a global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis 2016-2021. The 194 member states of the health agency have committed to eliminate the disease by 2030.
The strategy outlines five opportunities that countries can leverage on to achieve these goals. They focus on effective vaccines, which are now available for Hepatitis A, B and E. Hepatitis B vaccine is also available for childhood immunisation in many countries including Kenya.
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The strategy lists prevention of mother to child transmission of type B as a key strategy in preventing spread of the virus. “There is already a platform for prevention of mother to child transmission for HIV and syphilis. We are advocating for inclusion of Hepatittis B mother to child transmission through antenatal testing and use of antiviral drugs,” says Professor Lesi Olufunmilayo, Regional Adviser Viral Hepatitis, WHO Africa.
Other opportunities for curbing spread of viral hepatitis under the strategy are increased safety of needles and injections, harm reduction for people injecting drugs and enhanced treatments through effective drugs. All the WHO countries are also encouraged to develop action plans for the elimination of viral hepatitis.
Missiani Ochwoto, Research Officer, Kenya Medical Research Institute says Kenya has developed a strategy for viral hepatitis, but has not been operationalised yet, as it requires customisation through training and adoption.
So far only 28 countries have developed national hepatitis strategic plans, with 13 having officially published and disseminated the document.
