Experts from the African region on Monday said the integration of hepatitis elimination services in existing health systems, political will, adequate funding and vaccination are some of the pathways to achieving the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030.
They said this at the World Health Organisation side meeting of the African Hepatitis Summit for new guidelines dissemination.
According to them, viral hepatitis infection is a global public health and development issue, and Africa is greatly affected with more than 91 million Africans living with viral hepatitis B and C.
The WHO said an estimated 1.2 million new hepatitis infections and 125,000 hepatitis-related deaths occurred in the African region in 2019.
Speaking at the meeting, WHO’s Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, noted that despite available diagnostic tools and effective treatment, less than 10 per cent of the population in Africa are aware of the infections and more than 90 per cent…