Govt steps up efforts to combat Hepatitis B
DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has revealed its strategies to combat spread of Hepatitis B in the country, including raising public awareness on the disease.
Representing Minister for Health, Ms Ummy Mwalimu in the event to mark the World Hepatitis Day 2024 in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Ministry of Health, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr Grace Magembe said the government has been providing education to the public on the importance of hepatitis testing.
According to Dr Magembe, research conducted in 2023 has shown that there are 3.5 per cent of Tanzanians living with Hepatitis B and one per cent living with Hepatitis C. Statistics also shows that HIV and Hepatitis B infections continue to decrease.
“The success we recorded is due to the public being educated and sensitised to conduct testing for hepatitis and those diagnosed with the disease, receive treatment so that they do not continue to infect others and those tested negative receive vaccination to avoid infection,” Dr Magembe said.
She said that since 2002, the ministry stepped up efforts to battle against the disease, including provision of a pentavalent vaccine to children under five years, to prevent them against various diseases including Hepatitis B, saying that Tanzanians born from 2002 to date have already received the jab.
Similarly, she urged parents to ensure that their children are given the pentavalent vaccine immediately after birth, because it protects a child against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
Dr Magembe also urged Tanzanians born before 2002 to get vaccinations at various government and private health centres, which are currently being offered at a low cost.
Moreover, Dr Magembe said that for the first time; in marking the World Hepatitis Day 2024, Tanzania has an integrated programme-the National Aids, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Hepatitis Control Programme (NASHCoP) to facilitate the delivery of services to people at once.
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Speaking earlier, Head of Programme in the Ministry of Health, Dr Catherine Joachim said that the Ministry of Health in collaboration with other stakeholders have been providing various health services at the TP grounds (Sinza B) in Dar es salaam since July 25th this year, which were completed on climax of World Hepatitis Day 2024 yesterday.
She mentioned the services provided as including, education and testing for Hepatitis B, HIV testing, education on nutritional services, education and distribution of condoms, vaccination service for Hepatitis B, blood donation as well as breast, prostate and cervix cancer testing.
According to her, out of 524 who showed up for Hepatitis B testing, 15 were found to have an infection which is equivalent to 2.8 per cent and it is below the international standard of three per cent, saying that these patients should be connected to health centres to continue treatment.
She also said that among the 541 citizens who showed up for HIV testing, only four were infected with HIV which is equal to 0.7 per cent
“A total of 429 people have been vaccinated against hepatitis B and have been connected to health centres for the continuation of vaccination,” she added.
