Hepatitis B unknown but common in Uganda

Jan 07, 2002

Over 3.5 million Ugandans are unknowingly suffering from Hepatitis B, a liver cancer, Dr Issa Makumbi, the commissioner for health services in charge of immunisation has said.

By Kikonyogo NgatyaOver 3.5 million Ugandans are unknowingly suffering from Hepatitis B, a liver cancer, Dr Issa Makumbi, the commissioner for health services in charge of immunisation has said.“This is a silent epidemic that requires urgent attention. The patients don’t’ think it’s a problem because its effects are felt at its advanced stages,” he said.Makumbi said this in Kampala recently.He said that the findings were from tests carried out on all blood donors throughout the country in recent years.Makumbi also said that for every 100,000 children below five years, 59 of them suffer from haemophilus influenza, a disease which causes lung and brain damage, also associated with epilepsy.“Because of this big burden, we are introducing two vaccines- Hepatitis B and H influenza for immunising young children against the diseases,” he said.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});