By Steven Enatu in Kumi
The Hepatitis Aid Organization has urged the government, specifically through the Ministry of Health, to consider augmenting the budget allocation dedicated to the eradication of hepatitis in Uganda.
Emmanuel Lutamaguzi, the Executive Director of the Hepatitis Aid Organization and an individual living with hepatitis B, raised this plea at this year’s Hepatitis B celebration in Kumi. Lutamaguzi highlighted that the funding allocated to the fight against hepatitis in Uganda has remained at USD 3 million since 2015, despite the escalating burden within the community.
“In 2019, we had the first African hepatitis summit and we made a commitment to support hepatitis C through the Egyptian government. As a civil society person, I would really push that we do something about the program; hepatitis C is curable. With the budget cuts, we need to do advocacy for increased budgetary allocation towards hepatitis. The last funding allocated has been the same for close to 10 years now,” Lutamaguzi appealed.
He said achieving the UN commitment of eliminating hepatitis by 2030 will be undermined if domestic funding is limited.
World Hepatitis Day was held under the theme “Eliminating Hepatitis: Hepatitis Can’t Wait. It’s Time for Action.”
Uganda has 1.1 million hepatitis B patients and 356,000 cases of hepatitis C today. Prior to the event, Kumi tested 7,110 community members and 300 tested positive for hepatitis B, indicating a prevalence of 4.1%.
Dr. Emmanuel Ongala, the District Health Officer of Kumi District, said the number is distributed throughout the district. Samples have been taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory in Kampala to determine who qualifies for treatment.
“We base on several tests like viral load; if it’s high, we enroll you in treatment. We also compare your blood count and liver function. We calculate if you meet a certain figure, we enroll you in treatment,” he explained.
Some hepatitis patients have mild symptoms that their bodies can fight off, returning to normal, according to scientists. “We are also receiving supplies very soon from NMS to ensure all our clients are tested. As a district, we shall continue with interventions geared at eliminating hepatitis. One of them is ensuring that all our newly born children receive the hepatitis vaccine at birth,” he said.
Dr. Ongala emphasized that infection at birth is more severe and can lead to cancer in the future. The screening of children shall be conducted at all health centers. He called upon the community to embrace testing for hepatitis, as the district has over 30,000 kits for carrying out tests.
Dr. Charles Olaro, the Director of Curative Care at the Ministry of Health, noted that the number is concerning since the country launched the vaccination in 2016. In 2000, the government also launched the vaccination of newborns. With this, Dr. Olaro noted that they wouldn’t expect such statistics in Uganda.
Prof. Dr. Ponsiano Acama attributed the high prevalence of hepatitis in the region to high alcohol consumption and cultural practices. He said the effects of alcohol on the liver are similar to the effects of viral hepatitis. In his keynote address, he said some people’s deaths are due to alcohol-related hepatitis rather than viral hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis is caused by five types of hepatitis: A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A and E are transmitted similarly to cholera, through eating contaminated food and drinks. These two cause acute infections but are not chronic to the level of damaging the liver. Hepatitis B, C, and D cause chronic diseases and are transmitted similarly to HIV/AIDS, through sexual intercourse, sharing sharp objects, and blood transfusions, which are rare in Uganda. A person with hepatitis B may develop cirrhosis, leading to liver cancer or liver failure and death. Hepatitis B and D are intertwined, with D surviving on B.
In the greater Northeastern region, cultural and traditional norms are common ways hepatitis B is spread, according to Prof. Dr. Ocama. Practices like traditional treatments for childhood diarrhea and pneumonia, using the same instrument on multiple children, can spread hepatitis B. He strongly condemned these cultural practices.
The commemoration of World Hepatitis Day for Uganda at Kumi Boma ground also marked a significant stride in the fight against hepatitis as the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Strategic Plan was launched. The event was presided over by the State Minister for General Duties at the Ministry of Health, Hannifah Kawoya, and Director of Curative Care at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Charles Olato, among others.
The plan outlines government intentions at both the central and district levels, with a strong emphasis on prevention and treatment.