Viral Hepatitis

Viral Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection; The infection is a serious global public health problem, the six distinct types of viral hepatitis viruses include; A, B, C, D, E and G. The five common (5) types; A, B, C, D and E are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread.

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“The biggest enemy to health in the developing world is poverty” Kofi Annan

For Hepatitis A virus (HAV), and Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the primary source of infection is the faeces with faecal-oral route being the most predominant mode of transmission. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis D virus, (HDV), and Hepatitis G virus (HGV) are blood borne viruses and are primarily transmitted through a breach in the skin (percutaneous) or Mucosa (Mucosal) or vertical( mother to child transmission).

All Hepatitis viral infections are acute but hepatitis B, C, D and G can also result in chronic infections. Acute Viral hepatitis A and E infections are common in Children and Pregnant Women. Hepatitis A (HAV) accounts for two thirds of all cases of acute viral Hepatitis in children, almost 96% of the population is exposed to HAV by the age of 5 years and 98-100% at adulthood. Hepatitis E (HEV) is a disease of mild to moderate severity (mortality rate of 0.4-4.0%) except in pregnancy, where the mortality rate may reach 20% in the last trimester of pregnancy especially during epidemics.

Ongoing Projects

  • Empowering Emin Pasha Hotel Staff to Promote Better Health through viral Hepatitis Literacy and Screening services.
  • Empowering the Church Community to Promote Better Health through Hepatitis Literacy and Service delivery in Kampala Central Church, SDA Kampala District Health Camp.

Viral Hepatitis A (HAV)

  • 01 Hepatitis A

    Transmission

    Main mode of transmission through faeco-oral route for example through eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water. The disease has a predilection for areas with poor sanitation, hygiene and lack of safe water

    Prevention

    Hepatitis A is vaccine preventable but no definitive treatment though exposure to the virus evokes short term immunity to individuals. The exposure risk can be greatly reduced by good and safe hygiene, excreta disposal and sanitation modalities and protected and safe water sources advocated especially for drinking water in the communities.

    Treatment

    There is no definitive treatment for hepatitis A though the body’s immnune system has the ability to clear the infection within a few weeks. However Hepatitis A poses also as a threat causing further complications.

  • Transmission

    Main mode of transmission through faeco-oral route for example through eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water. The disease has a predilection for areas with poor sanitation, hygiene and lack of safe water

    Prevention

    Hepatitis B is vaccine preventable but has no definitive cure therefore hepatitis B vaccination is very effective.

    Treatment

    Antiviral drugs and therapy for viral Hepatitis is available majorly to reduce the risk of complications, slow progression, and replication of the already existing disease

  • Transmission

    Blood to blood contact with the commonest modes of infection being; unsafe injection practises, certain sexual practises, unscreened blood and blood products, and inadequate sterilization of surgical and medical equipment.

    Prevention

    There is no vaccine for viral hepatitis C; to reduce exposure risk avoid sharing sharps and other in- animate objects like tooth brushes, razors , nail clippers, scissors, no tattoos and body piercings from unlicensed facilities.

    Treatment

    Hepatitis C is curable; there are potent direct acting antiviral drugs that can cure viral Hepatitis C. the high cost of the drugs makes it difficult for rise in the cure rates but the differences in the hepatitis genotypes is disappearing as cure rates with the new antiviral drugs approach 100%.

  • Transmission

    Blood borne; contact with blood of an infected person.

    Prevention

    Hepatitis D can not occur alone; only affects people who are already infected with hepatitis B virus. Getting HBV vaccine is the mainstay of conferring protection against hepatitis D.

    Treatment

    No effective antiviral known but treatment with interferon helps.

  • Transmission

    Faeco-oral through contaminated food or drinking water; outbreaks common where there is lack of safe water and poor sanitation and hygiene

    Prevention

    Hepatitis E is vaccine preventable but the vaccine is not widely available. Safe hygiene, clean protected water sources and good sanitation practises reduces the risk of exposure to hepatitis E.

    Treatment

    Spontaneous recovery of most of the hepatitis E cases, and there is no known treatment for Hepatitis E.

 

World Hepatitis Day

Introduction

World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is one of the eight official global public health campaigns marked by the world health organisation (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor day, world Immunisation week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco day, World Malaria Day, and World AIDS Day. The World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) in Collaboration with patient groups declared May 19 the first global world hepatitis day. Following the adoption of a resolution during the 63rd world hepatitis assembly in May 2010, World Hepatitis Day was given global endorsement as the primary focus for national and international awareness praising efforts and the date was changed to July 28th in honour of Nobel Laureate Baruch Samuel Blumberg, Discoverer of the hepatitis B virus, who celebrates his birth day on the same date.

LUGEI FOUNDATION(LF) VIRAL HEPATITIS PROGRAMMING APPROACHES 2020

Lugei Foundation(LF) approaches in curbing viral hepatitis fight as we gear towards 2030 global hepatitis elimination strategy and the national hepatitis strategy for Uganda focuses on the diferent models or approaches below.

  • Outreach testing and screening activities for hepatitis B/hepatitis C/HIV/AIDS
  • Awareness raising and/or advocacy initiatives
  • Engaging with Hepatitis B/Hepatitis C/HIV/AIDS ambassadors or Celebrities
  • Capacity building and Trainings
  • Media Campaigns such as Social media networks

Hepatitis Impact In Uganda

In Uganda National Statistics 2010, it is estimated that more 52% of the population has been exposed to HBV that nearly 3.5 million (10%) of the exposed population are infected with HBV, 30% of those infected are chronically ill and requires treatment and 16 million are eligible for vaccination of which 9.24% have been screen to be positive across the country. The regional HBV prevalence in 2010 National statistics range as follows; north east 23.9%, North-Central 20.7%, West Nile 18.5%, Western 10%, Kampala 5.3%, Central 6.2% while South-West with 3.8%.

In the current survey of Uganda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (UPHIA) 2016 puts the prevalence of viral Hepatitis B at 4.1% with Men standing at 5.4% women at 3.0% while 0.7% and 0.6% in boys and girls. The regional HBV prevalence varies as follows; Central 1-1.6% Central 2, 2.0%, Kampala 1.9%, East-Central, 2.7%, Mid-East 2.1, Mid-East- 2.1, North-East, 4.4, West-Nile – 3.8%, Mid-North- 4.6%, Mid-West- 1.8%, South-West- 0.8%.

What You Didn`t Know About Hepatitis

  • Viral Hepatitis is included in target 3.3 of the sustainable development goal (SDG)3.
  • Eliminating viral HBV and HCV as public Health threats by 2030 would prevent approximately 36 million infections and save 10 million lives.
  • Birth Dose Vaccine adoption in many African members as a cheaper option elimination strategy will be critical and achievable.
  • Hepatitis B is the major infective occupational hazard to the following; health care workers, emergency personnel, staff of jails, prisons and grouped homes.
  • Hepatitis B and C is not spread through sharing food, water, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, coughing or sneezing, urine, stool, hugging or kissing, and mosquitoes.
  • 9 out of 10 people living with viral Hepatitis are unaware that they are infected; only 20% of those living with hepatitis C and less than 10% living with hepatitis B are aware of their condition
  • Majority of viral hepatitis associated deaths are preventable. Vaccination provides protection against hepatitis B, safe blood and injection practises and harm reduction are highly effective at protecting against HBV and HCV.
  • Elimination should include not just eradication through prevention, but elimination of the current suffering of those with disease. Vaccines for hepatitis B are available; curative medicines are available for Hepatitis C
  • The WHO’s Elimination Strategy by 2030 is based on five synergistic prevention and treatment targets; and they include; immunization against Hepatitis B, prevention of mother to child transmission of hepatitis B, blood and injection safety, comprehensive harm reduction services, testing and treatment.