4.1% of Uganda’s population live with Hepatitis

24 August 2023, 4:04 pm

Byamukama Alozious

Ministry of Health says most Ugandans have not yet embraced hepatitis diagnosis and yet the burden continues to rise.

In 2015 Ministry of Health screened 5,750,000 of whom 360,000 were positive and were put to vaccination. World Health Organization in 2019 reported that at least there were 1.2 million new infections in Africa and 125,000 deaths and mostly were children and youths.

During media orientation on Hepatitis burden in Kampala, Dr. Rachel Beyagira, Hepatitis focal officer said of 4.1% who live with Hepatitis, 90% are asymptomatic. She added that it can be transmitted by sharing of sharp objects which have not under sterilization, through sex with infected person more especially some sexual intercourse , during delivery among others and that most of the Hepatitis face symptoms like yellowing of eyes, vomiting, feeling abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and dark urine.

‘’We face a lot of challenges whereby there is a lot of vaccine drop outs, misinformation, cultural resistance, lack of awareness and myth’’, Dr. Rachel told journalists.

Global statistics indicate that 96% deaths are caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV), these two viruses cause chronic, lifelong infection resulting to liver damage, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

According to UPHIA 2016, the prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis B infection among adults aged 15-64 stands at 4.1% and 0.6% among children aged 0-14.

Ministry of Health in Uganda says in 2020 alone, over 125 deaths hepatitis death reports were resulting from liver cancer, cirrhosis and liver failure.

The ministry data shows that Hepatitis in West Nile  is at 3.8%, Northern East 4.4%, Mid North 4.6% Central 2 2.0% and South West 0.8 %.

Dr. Mugaga Kagwa who is the focal person on HIV, STI’s and Hepatitis on behalf of World Health Organization wants the public to test and know their status to stop the trend, He adds that STI’s, HIV and Hepatitis cause 2.3milion death globally where by 0.8% is caused by HBV and HCV.

To reduce the burden the government has put the following efforts to pretend further spread in communities.

• Decentralized testing to Health center III and treatment at Health center IV
• Hepatitis dose B at birth
• Early childhood vaccinations
• Screening of mothers during antenatal care visits
• Budget allocations to support control activities, procure vaccines, test kits and medicine