91 million Africans infected with deadliest hepatitis - WHO

91 million Africans infected with deadliest hepatitis - WHO

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More than 91 million Africans live with Hepatitis B or C, which are the deadliest strains of the virus, according to a World Health Organisation scorecard.

The Viral Hepatitis Scorecard 2021 looks at data from the African region but focuses on Hepatitis B and C, both of which cause liver cirrhosis and cancer. It found that in 19 countries, more than eight percent of the population is infected with Hepatitis B, while in 18 countries, more than one percent of the population lives with Hepatitis C.

In 2020, the African region accounted for 26 percent of the global burden for Hepatitis B and C and 125,000 associated deaths.

The scorecard showed that around 70 percent of Hepatitis B infections worldwide occur in Africa.

“It can take decades after infection from the virus before an individual starts manifesting symptoms. Thus, what is particularly worrying for the future is that the region accounts for 70 percent of the global Hepatitis B cases found among children younger than 5 years, with 4.5 million African children infected. Currently, 33 countries have a Hepatitis B prevalence of more than one percent among children younger than 5 years, which is a small improvement from 40 countries in 2019,” it noted.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said hepatitis was a silent epidemic, but this scorecard is sounding an alarm for the region and the world to hear.

“We must do better and stop this disease from stealing away our children’s future. There is a safe and effective vaccine that offers nearly 100 percent protection against Hepatitis B, one of the deadliest strains of the virus. We must ensure that all African children are vaccinated within 24 hours of their birth and are followed up with two or more doses of the vaccine,” Moeti said.

The scorecard found that coverage for routine childhood vaccination against Hepatitis B is 72 percent for the region, well below the global target of 90 percent needed to ensure that the virus is no longer a public health menace.

“The number of countries with more than 90 percent coverage has increased from 23 in 2019 to 27 in 2021. Additionally, while the birth dose vaccine is administered in only 14 African countries, at an overall coverage of 10 percent, it is an increase from 11 countries in 2019.

“Hepatitis can be spread through contaminated blood products, and much more progress is needed to ensure blood safety. In the African region, only 80 percent of blood donations are screened with quality assurance, while five percent of syringes are re-used. Only six syringes are distributed per injecting drug user, compared to the global annual target of 200.

“Diagnosis and treatment rates are alarmingly low, the scorecard shows. In 2021, only an estimated two percent of persons infected with Hepatitis B were diagnosed, and only 0.1 percent were treated. For Hepatitis C, an estimated 5per cent of infected persons were diagnosed, with close to 0 percent treated,” the WHO said.

Dr. Moeti added that “To turn the tide, hepatitis services must move out of specialized clinics to decentralized and integrated facilities where most Africans still seek care. More primary health care workers need to be trained to diagnose and treat the virus.

“While there has been progress in making hepatitis medications affordable, still more needs to be done.”

The PUNCH reports that World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28 annually and this year’s theme is ‘Bringing hepatitis care close to you.’

The PUNCH also reports that the Federal Government has developed a National Strategic Framework for eliminating viral hepatitis in the country by 2030.

The Federal Government said the framework was in line with the Global Health Sector Strategy for viral hepatitis control.


 
Waafrika milioni 91 wameambukizwa homa ya ini hatari zaidi - WHO

Zaidi ya Waafrika milioni 91 wanaishi na Hepatitis B au C, ambayo ni aina mbaya zaidi ya virusi, kulingana na kadi ya alama ya Shirika la Afya Ulimwenguni.

Kadi ya alama za Hepatitis 2021 inaangazia data kutoka kanda ya Afrika lakini inaangazia Hepatitis B na C, ambayo husababisha ugonjwa wa cirrhosis na saratani. Iligundua kuwa katika nchi 19, zaidi ya asilimia nane ya watu wameambukizwa Hepatitis B, wakati katika nchi 18, zaidi ya asilimia moja ya watu wanaishi na Hepatitis C.

Mwaka 2020, kanda ya Afrika ilichangia asilimia 26 ya mzigo wa kimataifa wa Hepatitis B na C na vifo 125,000 vinavyohusiana.

Kadi ya alama ilionyesha kuwa karibu asilimia 70 ya maambukizo ya Hepatitis B ulimwenguni kote hutokea barani Afrika.

"Inaweza kuchukua miongo kadhaa baada ya kuambukizwa na virusi kabla ya mtu kuanza kudhihirisha dalili. Kwa hivyo, kinachotia wasiwasi hasa kwa siku za usoni ni kwamba eneo hilo linachukua asilimia 70 ya visa vya Hepatitis B duniani vinavyopatikana miongoni mwa watoto walio na umri wa chini ya miaka 5, huku watoto milioni 4.5 wa Afrika wameambukizwa. Hivi sasa, nchi 33 zina maambukizi ya Hepatitis B ya zaidi ya asilimia moja kati ya watoto walio na umri wa chini ya miaka 5, ambayo ni uboreshaji mdogo kutoka nchi 40 mwaka 2019," ilibainisha.

Mkurugenzi wa WHO Kanda ya Afrika, Dk. Matshidiso Moeti, alisema homa ya ini ni janga la kimya kimya, lakini kadi hii ya alama inatoa sauti ya kengele kwa kanda na ulimwengu kusikia.

"Lazima tufanye vyema zaidi na kukomesha ugonjwa huu dhidi ya kuiba maisha ya baadaye ya watoto wetu. Kuna chanjo salama na yenye ufanisi ambayo inatoa ulinzi wa karibu asilimia 100 dhidi ya Hepatitis B, mojawapo ya aina hatari zaidi za virusi. Ni lazima tuhakikishe kuwa watoto wote wa Kiafrika wamepewa chanjo ndani ya saa 24 baada ya kuzaliwa na kufuatiwa na dozi mbili au zaidi za chanjo hiyo,” Moeti alisema.

Kadi ya matokeo iligundua kuwa chanjo ya kawaida ya watoto dhidi ya Hepatitis B ni asilimia 72 kwa kanda, chini ya lengo la kimataifa la asilimia 90 inayohitajika ili kuhakikisha kuwa virusi sio tishio la afya ya umma.

"Idadi ya nchi zenye chanjo ya zaidi ya asilimia 90 imeongezeka kutoka 23 mwaka 2019 hadi 27 mwaka 2021. Zaidi ya hayo, wakati chanjo ya uzazi inatolewa katika nchi 14 tu za Afrika, kwa jumla ya asilimia 10, ni ongezeko kutoka nchi 11 mwaka 2019.

“Homa ya ini inaweza kuenezwa kupitia bidhaa zilizochafuliwa za damu, na maendeleo zaidi yanahitajika ili kuhakikisha usalama wa damu. Katika kanda ya Afrika, ni asilimia 80 tu ya uchangiaji wa damu huchunguzwa kwa uhakikisho wa ubora, wakati asilimia tano ya sindano zinatumika tena. Sindano sita pekee ndizo zinazosambazwa kwa kila mtumiaji wa dawa, ikilinganishwa na lengo la kimataifa la 200.

"Viwango vya uchunguzi na matibabu ni vya chini sana, kadi ya alama inaonyesha. Mnamo mwaka wa 2021, inakadiriwa kuwa asilimia mbili tu ya watu walioambukizwa na Hepatitis B waligunduliwa, na ni asilimia 0.1 tu ndio waliotibiwa. Kwa ugonjwa wa Homa ya Ini, wastani wa asilimia 5 ya watu walioambukizwa waligunduliwa, na karibu asilimia 0 walitibiwa," WHO ilisema.

Dk. Moeti aliongeza kuwa "Ili kukabiliana na wimbi hilo, huduma za homa ya ini lazima ziondoke kwenye kliniki maalumu na kwenda kwenye vituo vilivyogawanywa ambapo Waafrika wengi bado wanatafuta huduma. Wahudumu zaidi wa afya ya msingi wanahitaji kufunzwa kutambua na kutibu virusi.

"Ingawa kumekuwa na maendeleo katika kufanya dawa za homa ya ini kuwa nafuu, bado mengi zaidi yanahitajika kufanywa."

Gazeti la PUNCH linaripoti kuwa Siku ya Homa ya Ini Duniani huadhimishwa Julai 28 kila mwaka na kaulimbiu ya mwaka huu ni ‘Kuleta huduma ya homa ya ini karibu nawe.’

PUNCH pia inaripoti kwamba Serikali ya Shirikisho imeunda Mfumo wa Kitaifa wa Mkakati wa kutokomeza homa ya ini ya virusi nchini ifikapo 2030.

Serikali ya Shirikisho ilisema mfumo huo unaambatana na Mkakati wa Sekta ya Afya Ulimwenguni kwa udhibiti wa homa ya ini.
 
World Hepatitis Day - 2022 is being celebrated globally today on July 28, with the theme "No more waiting, now is the time to prevent Hepatitis".
 
Hospitali ya Taifa Muhimbili imeanza maandalizi ya kupandikiza ini ikiwa ni mikakati ya kukabiliana na tatizo la homa ya ini ambayo inakadiriwa kusababisha vifo ya watu milioni moja kila mwaka duniani. https://t.co/w5QHHtQzBT
 
Tayari hospitali imeanza michakato ya kusomesha wataalamu a kuboresha miundombinu ikiwa ni maandalizi ya kuanza kupandikiza ini ambayo ndio tiba kamili kwa watu wenye magonjwa hayo ambao matibabu mengine yameshindikana.
 
Huu Ugonjwa unaua vibaya sana ajabu hautiliwi mkazo kabisa,

Ni Muda sasa mimi na Familia yangu tukapime na kupata chanjo.
 
Wazungu Nia yao ni kutuangamiza tu

Ninawacwac wamepandikiza wenyewe

Through chanjo
 
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