Rwanda: Africa CDC Boss Commends Rwanda's Progress in Hepatitis Elimination

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a New Times report from Kigali, said Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya has praised Rwanda’s hepatitis response as a model of domestic leadership in public health. In an article released for World Hepatitis Day on July 28, alongside Africa CDC’s new operational toolkit for hepatitis B prevention, diagnosis and management, Kaseya cited Rwanda, Egypt and Uganda as examples of countries making progress through national commitment and investment.

According to the report, Kaseya argued that Africa’s hepatitis challenge is less about unavailable technology than weak delivery of existing tools. Africa CDC estimates that 64 million people on the continent live with chronic hepatitis B, with Africa accounting for about 63% of new global hepatitis B infections. The agency also reported an estimated 272,000 hepatitis-related deaths in Africa in 2022, while screening and treatment coverage remain very low.

The New Times reported that Rwanda has screened more than seven million people, made hepatitis C treatment free nationwide, expanded services beyond central facilities, and enabled trained nurses to manage uncomplicated cases in primary healthcare settings. Kaseya presented that approach as part of a broader “health sovereignty” agenda in which African governments set priorities, finance systems, support local production and rely less on external support.

The Africa CDC toolkit is intended to guide health workers, especially in district-level facilities with limited specialist access, on diagnosis, treatment and patient monitoring. Kaseya urged countries to increase domestic funding, integrate hepatitis care into primary healthcare, improve newborn vaccination within 24 hours of birth, strengthen local manufacturing and raise public awareness.