World Hepatitis Day . Viral Hepatitis has caused significant toll on humans globally. It is one of the most deadly and neglected diseases of our time – claiming a life every 30 seconds. Globally, 354 million people live with hepatitis, with more than 1.2 million lives lost each year to hepatitis B and hepatitis C. 7% of people living with TB also live with Hepatitis C. 2.7million people living with HIV also live with Hepatitis B. 2.3 million people living with HIV also live with Hepatitis C. Globally, 820, 000 deaths resulted from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. 1.5 million new infections each year.
In African region 18 million people were infected as of 2019, the second highest burden after western pacific region where 116M people are infected[1] The burden of viral hepatitis B, according to coalition for global hepatitis elimination (CGHE)[2], the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection in South Sudan is estimated to be 6.9%. A seroprevalence study[3] conducted at Juba teaching hospital showed even a higher prevalence of 11% (31/280) among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic.
The National Strategic Plan on Viral Hepatitis in South Sudan 2020-2024 is just at its initial stages of its implementation, therefore there is need for concerted effort from partners, government, and donors to ensure the achievement of the target eliminate viral hepatitis under the sustainable development goal(SGD) by 2030. Therefore, as we commemorated this years’ world hepatitis day , DASA added its voice to raise awareness, advocate for resources to scale up testing and treatment of viral hepatitis in an effort to achieve the 2030 hepatitis elimination goal in South Sudan through the “Triple Elimination Strategy”.
The celebration of the World Hepatitis Day on 28th July 2023 was under the local theme: “We’re not waiting” (global theme: One Life, One Liver). Each year, more than a million lives are lost due to hepatitis-we’re not waiting to change that, we’re fighting to making it happen. While, last year 2022, WHD was celebrated under the theme “I can’t wait” which highlighted the social injustice and inequity caused by the lack of action on hepatitis elimination and focused on the positive action needed to get on track to meet the WHO 2030 elimination goal[4]. This year 2023 WHD theme “we’re not waiting” is a call to action. It’s a call to accelerate elimination efforts of viral hepatitis now and the urgent need for testing and treatment for the real people which need it. While we celebrate individuals and communities in our societies who are making change happen in their lives and in the world around them, we call for more action.
We’re Not Waiting[5]
-People living with viral hepatitis (PLWVH) unaware can’t wait for testing -PLWVH can’t wait for life saving treatment -Expectant mothers can’t wait for hepatitis screening and treatment -New babies can’t wait for birth dose vaccination -People affected by hepatitis can’t wait to end stigma and discrimination -Nongovernmental organizations/Community based organizations can’t wait for greater investment -Decision makers can’t wait and must act now to make hepatitis elimination a reality through political will and funding.
On WHD 28th July 2023, we also added our voice together with WHO, Hepatitis Consortium CSOs, and private sector partners to call for more action for the people affected by hepatitis across the country. we raised our voices on the occasion of the event to spread the message and raised awareness about hepatitis through public lecture at University of Juba, conducted triple elimination counselling and testing at Kator PHCC as well as hepatitis B&C testing and counselling campaign at University of Juba football ground.
[1] WHO Viral Hepatitis B: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-b [2] Coalition for Global hepatitis elimination: https://www.globalhep.org/country-progress/south-sudan [3] A Sero-prevalence of hepatitis B at JTH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5398872/#:~:text=InSouthernSudantheprevalence,inearlychildhood11. [4] WHD Summary Report: https://www.worldhepatitisday.org/world-hepatitis-day-2022-summary-report/ [5] WHD World Hepatitis Alliance Event 2023: https://www.worldhepatitisday.org/