World Hepatitis Day on 28th July is one of the eight global public health campaigns commemorated each year by the World Health Organization, WHO. Since 2011, Every year, World Hepatitis Day is commemorated on the 28th, July to raise public awareness on viral hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that leads to complications such as liver cancer.

There are five types of Hepatitis Virus; A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis B and C alone, each year contribute to more than one million deaths globally. Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, we continue to lose lives every day due to viral hepatitis.  Viral hepatitis is a highly endemic disease and a disease of public health concern in Uganda. In a survey conducted in 2016, it is estimated that the prevalence of viral hepatitis B in Uganda stands at 4.1 % in the population aged 15-64 years.

There is also regional variation of the disease prevalence, with the highest prevalence in the Mid- North at 4.6%, North­East 4.4%, West-Nile 3.8%, East- Central 2.7%, Mid­East 2.1 %, Central 2.0%, Kampala 1. 9%, Mid-West 1.8%, Central 1 1.6%, and the lowest in Southwest at 0.8%. While the actual prevalence of viral hepatitis C in Uganda is unknown, data from the National Blood Bank indicates that the prevalence of hepatitis C among blood donors in Uganda is approximately 1.5%. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS NOTICE