Hepatitis B victims committing suicide

Dec 07, 2016

"People have been misinformed about the disease. When they are told that they have the virus that causes the disease, others commit suicide...

Professor Ponsiano Ocama, chairperson of the National Organisation of People Living with Hepatitis B makes a presentation as Roche’s Patrick Zikanga looks on during the  Hepatitis B workshop at Fairway Hotel December 7, 2016.  Photos by Norman Katende

Ugandans are ending their life prematurely after being told that they are infected with Hepatitis B.

Professor Ponsiano Ocama revealed this at a workshop to discuss Hepatitis B at Fairway Hotel on Wednesday.

 elegates listen to rofessor onsiano cama at the epatitis  workshop at airway otel ecember 7 2016  Delegates listen to Professor Ponsiano Ocama at the Hepatitis B workshop at Fairway Hotel December 7, 2016.

 
He said a number of Ugandans in Northern Uganda  are committing suicide due to fear of stigma and isolation from relatives and friends.

"People have been misinformed about the disease. When they are told that they have the virus that causes the disease, others commit suicide. They just do not know what to do after," said Ocama.

Ocama is the chairperson of the National Organisation or People Living with Hepatitis B.

 


"We are having a big problem that there is no clear information about the disease. There has been so much misinformation about it. This is what we want to change by finding a way of passing the right information to the public," said Ocama.

The organization wants the health ministry to increase funding for the dissemination of information about Hepatitis B and also ensure that treatment is offered to those who are found with the virus.

The organization also wants a mandatory testing of Hepatitis B on antenatal cards and also to ensure that the children are vaccinated as it has been the case since 2002.

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