More than 71 million people are living with viral hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) in sub-Saharan Africa, and only 1 in 10 infants in Africa receives the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
This was revealed in a new report released by WHO on Friday during the launch of a scorecard to track progress against viral hepatitis in sub-Saharan Africa.
The report says Hepatitis C, which spreads due to unsafe injection practices, affects 10 million people, while hepatitis B, which spreads through blood and bodily fluids, and Mother-to-Child transmission, affects over 60 million people.
The report also observes poor progress of the viral response in the African region saying even with the high rate of the disease and the low cost of vaccine, “only 1 in 10 infants in Africa receives the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth, despite the low vaccine cost – at less than US$0.20 per child.”
Nigeria is not among the only three countries in sub-Saharan Africa that are implementing the strategic plans to tackle viral hepatitis.
WHO believes that much still remains to be done to achieve WHO’s strategy to reduce hepatitis infections by 90% and hepatitis-associated deaths by 65% by 2030.
Data from the new scorecard shows that only 1 in 5 countries in Africa have instituted policies to screen mothers during pregnancy and only three countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda) are implementing strategic plans to tackle viral hepatitis.
According to WHO, the new scorecard, which is the “first to examine hepatitis prevalence and response in the World Health Organization (WHO) African region, shows that only three of the 47 countries are on track to eliminate the disease that affects one in 15 people in the region.”
It also adds that “dying of viral hepatitis in Africa is becoming a bigger threat than dying of AIDS, malaria or tuberculosis.”
“This analysis is the first to track each country in the region and to assess progress towards the goal of saving the lives of more than two million Africans who may develop progressive hepatitis B or C liver disease in the next decade if countries fail to ramp up their efforts,” says Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
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The scorecard is due for presentation Tuesday at the first African Hepatitis Summit in Kampala, Uganda, from June 18 – 20.
The world body says the scorecard “provides vital information about the status of the regional hepatitis response, measuring progress against the Framework for Action for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis in the African Region (2016–2020). It was created as a guide for Member States on the implementation of the Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis, which calls for the elimination of hepatitis by 2030 (defined as a 90% reduction in new cases and 65% reduction in deaths).”
It continues “Every year more than 200 000 people in Africa are dying from complications of viral hepatitis B and C-related liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Sixty million people in the WHO Africa Region were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2015. More than 4.8 million of them are children under five years old. A further 10 million are infected with hepatitis C, most likely due to unsafe injection practices within health facilities or by communities.
“The analysis shows that 28 countries have developed a national hepatitis strategic plan for viral hepatitis; however, most are still in draft form with only 13 officially published and disseminated. WHO has been a major partner in the regional response with policy development and provision of technical and financial support as well as capacity building for a co-ordinated regional response.
“Only 15% (7/47) countries are leading prevention efforts with national coverage of both Hepatitis B birth dose and childhood pentavalent vaccination exceeding 90%. There are major gaps in hepatitis testing and treatment with less than eight countries providing subsidized testing and treatment for viral hepatitis. Uganda has started free nationwide hepatitis B treatment, and Rwanda is providing free treatment for both hepatitis B and C. These two countries are championing the regional response and are on track to reach the 2020 Framework targets for testing and community awareness.
“Administration of the hepatitis B vaccination at birth and in early infancy is the most effective way to halt the transmission of the virus because 95% of the burden of chronic disease is due to infections among children, acquired before their fifth birthday, including mother-to-child transmission.
“In spite of the low cost of birth dose vaccination – less than US$ 0.20 per child – only 11 countries in the region are following this protocol. One such country is Cabo Verde where the government has mobilized financial resources and has achieved 99% vaccination coverage at birth.
“In Uganda, where more than 6% of the population is infected, the commitment to end hepatitis infection was driven by civil society and strong political will with the result that it became one of the first African nations to fund domestic action against hepatitis B.
“With investments of around US$ 3 million a year, Uganda embarked on a massive, free hepatitis B screening programme in 2015, along with widespread community mobilization and awareness-raising actions. More than four million people have been screened. More than 30% of the population who are infected with hepatitis B are now aware of their status and can access comprehensive treatment services, including free medication. This performance exceeds the 2020 target for screening and awareness. There however remains much to be done to reach treatment targets.”
“It is fitting that the first African Hepatitis Summit should be held in Uganda,” says Dr Moeti. “The country has superb lessons to share, and we support these important exchanges as they are helping to build evidence-based policies and promoting partnerships for more concerted action against viral hepatitis across the region. They are showing us that beating this disease is achievable.”
