Hepatitis, characterized by liver inflammation, primarily stems from viral infections, with five main types labeled A through E. Every 30 seconds, a life succumbs to complications from viral hepatitis. While anyone can be affected, marginalized communities bear a disproportionate burden due to inadequate healthcare access.
Every 30 seconds, a life succumbs to complications from viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis, more dangerous than you think!
Chronic hepatitis B and C pose severe health risks, including liver damage, cancer, and premature death, alongside other associated conditions like diabetes and renal failure. Despite often remaining asymptomatic until advanced stages, these infections affect an alarming 354 million individuals globally.
The African region faces particularly high prevalence, with 82.3 million people living with chronic hepatitis B. Alarmingly, two-thirds of globally infected children are born in Africa, where perinatal or early childhood transmission significantly contributes to later liver cancer cases.
The African region faces particularly high prevalence, with 82.3 million people living with chronic hepatitis B.
Urgent action is imperative. Initiating hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth, followed by additional doses, is crucial. Countries implementing such programs witness substantial declines in infection rates and related fatalities.
Yet, as of 2022, only 33% of African Union Member States have adopted this birth dose vaccination strategy. Scaling up coverage to 90% by 2030 could prevent millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths globally, with a significant impact in African nations.
The problem
Children infected with HBV at birth face a staggering 90% likelihood of developing chronic HBV infection, with a one in four chance of premature death from HBV-related liver diseases, such as liver cancer, as they reach adulthood.
Shockingly, only one in five newborns in Africa receive the crucial birth dose vaccine, and merely 14 out of 47 African countries have incorporated the HepB-Birth Dose (HepB-BD) vaccine into their immunization schemes.
Even in countries where policies exist, the vaccination rates for newborns against HBV remain alarmingly low. Many African nations lack awareness of the health risks posed by HBV and fail to comprehend the benefits of vaccination, resulting in delays in implementing newborn vaccination protocols. Moreover, inadequate funding further hampers the implementation of birth dose vaccination initiatives.
Only one in five newborns in Africa receive the crucial birth dose vaccine, and merely 14 out of 47 African countries have incorporated the HepB-Birth Dose (HepB-BD) vaccine into their immunization schemes.
Unacceptable Hepatitis B-Birth Dose availability in Africa. Source: Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, The Task Force for Global Health; 2Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa; 3Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
To stem the tide of chronic HBV infections and associated fatalities in Africa, significant improvements in HepB-BD coverage are urgently needed – and this must be done with utmost sense of responsibility on the part of all stakeholders.
Let us act while we still can!
