Tanzania: Tanzania Cuts Hepatitis Burden

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a Tanzania Daily News report from Dar es Salaam, reported that Tanzania’s viral hepatitis burden has declined as the country marked World Hepatitis Day. According to figures cited by Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Eliudi Eliakimu, hepatitis B prevalence has decreased to 3.5% from 4% in 2022, while hepatitis C prevalence has fallen to 0.1% from 1%. The government says the trend supports its goal of ending viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

Dr Eliakimu said hepatitis B remains the most common type in Tanzania. He noted that hepatitis B, C and D can spread through unsafe blood transfusions, unprotected sex, contaminated needles or sharp instruments, and from an infected mother to a child during pregnancy or delivery. This year’s World Hepatitis Day theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” focuses on reducing barriers to prevention, testing and treatment.

The report said Tanzania has widened hepatitis screening and treatment to district, regional, zonal and national referral hospitals, while improving early diagnosis and referral at lower-level facilities. Children continue to receive free hepatitis B vaccination through the national immunisation programme, and screening or vaccination services are being offered to pregnant women and other higher-risk groups. Officials also pointed to domestic financing and integration of hepatitis services into other health programmes.

Specialists at Muhimbili National Hospital-Mloganzila and Benjamin Mkapa Hospital urged early testing, vaccination, safe transfusions, hygiene and healthier lifestyles. One MNH-Mloganzila doctor said the hospital’s liver clinic sees about 100 patients weekly and follows more than 5,000 people with liver disease, with hepatitis B making up most cases.