Africa Health ExCon reviews HepB-BD vaccine to prevent 710,000 death cases by 2030
During the second day's activities, the first African medical conference and exhibition "Africa Health ExCon" reviewed the strategies required on the African continent to eliminate Hepatitis.
Consultant Hepatologist at Imperial College London Shevanthi Nayagam said the provision of HepB-BD vaccine could prevent 710,000 deaths among children during the period 2020-2030, according to the second day’s activities of Africa Health ExCon.
Nayagam stated that the African and Western Pacific countries are the most affected by the burden of Hepatitis B, which the infected people has reached of 296 million people.
She added that the African countries represent more than 80 percent of the global burden of Hepatitis C infection, explaining that only 13 countries have incorporated the HepB-BD vaccine into their policies, while there are no initiatives for regular checkup of pregnant women.
Hepatitis B infection reached 6 million cases which recorded globally among children under five years, Medical Epidemiologist, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination Henry Njuguna, said. While, 4.3 million cases are in Africa, which records two out of every three cases of Hepatitis B infection, pointing that most of the new infections occur among children, he noted.
Nayagam also stressed on the importance of reinforcing medical systems and supporting their integration that will help to overcome the challenges that prevent the successful spread of the HepB-BD vaccine.
Egypt ready to share its successful experiences and expertise in the field of liver transplant from a charitable donor, Professor of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Hany Dabbous, mentioned.
