Minister Manaouda advocates vaccination to eliminate hepatitis.

The member of government made the declaration at the Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Centre in Yaounde. This was during a press conference Monday July 29. 

It was as part of the commemorative activities to mark the World Hepatitis Day that holds every July 28 across the globe. The Day was commemorated under the theme: “It's Time for Action”.

Speaking during the presser, the minister stated that there is need for concerted action to better eliminate hepatitis in the country and the world as a whole.

The theme for the 2024 edition of the World Hepatitis Day, the minister said, is a call for an increased mobilisation to eliminate viral hepatitis which is a serious threat to public health by 2030.

Minister Manaouda equally expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the fight against hepatitis for their support, while detailing government's efforts, including the launch of the AIDS free holidays campaign, and the improvement of health infrastructures for case detection and treatment. 

According to the member of government, in 2023, Cameroon detected over 12,000 new cases of viral hepatitis B and almost 3,800 cases of hepatitis C, with a significant impact on public health. 

He said priority at the moment is to reduce the figures and achieve the goal of zero newborn infected with hepatitis B while expanding access to treatment for existing patients.

The minister noted that there are 19 approved treatment centres and two health districts that have been set up nationwide to tackle the disease. 

“This is helping to improve the quality of patient care, through a dynamic system of proximity and treatment availability,” he said.

Government, Dr Manaouda said, is working to overcome the challenges through new approach of innovative financing. Tactics, he said, are currently being implemented, in order to increase people's chances of equitable access to prevention and treatment of the pathology.

“Cameroon is firmly positioned in the global fight against hepatitis, with a clear vision to achieve the goals of reducing the prevalence and eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030,” the minister said.

According to Dr Manaouda, available data suggest a high prevalence of these diseases in the country with Hepatitis B affecting 11.2% of the population, with marked regional disparities, particularly in the Far North where prevalence reaches 17.7%. 

He said in the Hepatitis C affects 1.3% of the general population in the Far North and the prevalence of hepatitis D among people infected with hepatitis B is 10.5%.

According to the health boss, the objectives for his team include 90% of patients knowing their serological status, 90% of patients testing positive being put on treatment, and a 65% reduction in the mortality rate linked to hepatitis. 

World Hepatitis Day in summary

Since it was first celebrated in 2010, World Hepatitis Day, officially designated by the World Health Organisation, WHO, aims to raise awareness and encourage screening and vaccination against the chronic infections, which affect millions of people worldwide. Viral hepatitis A and B are responsible for serious liver disease and numerous deaths.

Hepatitis is transmitted mainly through contact with contaminated blood, unprotected sexual intercourse, and from mother to child at birth for hepatitis B and D.

The most vulnerable groups include healthcare professionals, unvaccinated people, intravenous drug users, and people who received blood products before 1990. Prevention requires vaccination, safe medical practices and increased awareness.

The World Hepatitis Day highlights the need for collaborative action to expand access to diagnosis and treatment in the world.

According to the Pan African Health Organization, PAHO, the celebration is an opportunity to intensify the global fight against this disease, promote action and participation of individuals, partners and the public and underscore the need for a strong global response.

Reiterating on the theme, PAHO emphasised the urgency of accelerating measures to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the killer disease.

July 28 annually, is a commemoration in honour of the birthday of Dr Baruch Blumberg, who was awarded the Noble Prize in 1978 for his discovery of hepatitis B virus in 1967 including his contribution to the invention of a diagnosis test and corresponding vaccine.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3185 of Wednesday July 31, 2024