KNH marks World Hepatitis Day 2022

By Yvonne Gichuru

Hepatitis Day, one of the World Health Organization’s seven officially mandated global public health days is observed every year on 28th July to raise awareness and promote global action on viral hepatitis.

This year’s theme; ‘Bringing hepatitis care closer to you’ , aimed to raise awareness about the need to simplify and bring hepatitis care to primary health facilities, communitybased venues and locations beyond hospital sites, so that care is closer to communities and people wherever they are.

‘I can’t wait’ was the new campaign theme to launch World Hepatitis Day 2022. It highlighted the need to accelerate the fight against viral hepatitis and the importance of testing and treatment for people who need it. The campaign also called for immediate action and the end of stigma and discrimination.

In this regard, KNH in conjunction with the Ministry of Health (MOH), National Aids and STIs Control Programme (NASCOP), MSF – Doctors without Borders, President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) – Centers for Health and Education Programmes (C-HEP);

University of Maryland, Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and MegaLife Sciences Kenya came together and set up an event to honor and celebrate the day.

The day kicked off with a health walk from the Ministry of Health – Afya house to the KNH Administration Block led by a marching band from the National Police Service together with patient representatives and beneficiaries from the Medicationassisted treatment (MAT) programme and other health care workers to commemorate the day and raise awareness on Hepatitis.

The event saw various invited guests such as representatives from the partners aforementioned in attendance who all participated in the implementation of Hepatitis screening, diagnosis, management and vaccination activities that took place.

Dr. Rose Nyabanda – Director, Diagnostic and Health Information Services gave the welcoming remarks on behalf KNH CEO, Dr. Evanson Kamuri, EBS during the ceremony.

“As KNH our main objective is to always ensure better access to treatment and care for all our

patients including those with Hepatitis no matter what type they may have. KNH as a referral center, offers specialized diagnostic services, consultation, and treatment for Hepatitis,” she while appreciating all the partners for making the event possible.

Dr. Angela Thiong’o – MSF - Doctors Without Borders representative - Kiambu project; offering medically assisted therapy to people who use drugs and treatment for viral Hepatitis in Kiambu County called upon the government to ensure tests’ availability for the vulnerable population.

MAIN PHOTO | ELIJAH NG'ANG'A

Dr. Juliana Mwikali Muiva - Head of Department, Pediatrics & World Hepatitis Day 2022 committee chair addressing the audience during the ceremony.

“Hepatitis is amongst us and we have a responsibility to collectively change our attitude for the opportunity for prevention, testing and treatment to prevent the spread, ” she said.

“Hepatitis is responsible for 125 deaths every year in Africa despite the availability of treatment. We recognize as WHO that there are more than 90million people living with Hepatitis in Africa. Kenya carries a high burden of chronic Hepatitis B of about 1 million people in need of care and treatment. We call upon countries to advance towards decentralized care and integrate efforts to the primary care level in order to scale up service delivery of hepatitis B and C services that is in line with the Universal Health Coverage principles” said World Health Organization representative Mr. Otieno Cosmas on behalf of WHO Country Director – Kenya, Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo during the ceremony.

Mr. Richard Wanjohi – a beneficiary from Mathare National Teaching & Referral Hospital – Medically Assisted Programme also gave his experience on his journey with hepatitis.

“I started smoking cigarettes then graduated to self-injection drugs. I used to share injections with my colleagues then later got infected with Hepatitis C,” he said.

After his diagnosis, he joined Support for Addictions Prevention and Treatment in Africa (SAPTA) and after 3 months of treatment, the infection was virally suppressed and he was free from hepatitis.

“Hepatitis is a common infection within both the hospital and the community. We have active programmes in the renal unit and maternity unit in KNH where patients get screened against Hepatitis due to the nature of their conditions. We have advanced diagnostic capabilities to test for this disease and drug treatments are also available in KNH.” said Dr. Juliana Mwikali Muiva – Head, Pediatrics Department - KNH.

During his keynote address on behalf of Dr. Patrick Amoth - Ag. Director General, MOH, Dr. Simon Kibias - Head, Directorate of Health Standards, Quality Assurance and Regulation reiterated on the need for public health preventative measures in the management of Hepatitis.

“Let us unite and create awareness as we celebrate the progress we have made and mitigate the challenges. Together we shall win this war against Hepatitis. We can’t wait!” He concluded.

The free testing and vaccination of Hepatitis B was offered to everyone including KNH staff, patients and visitors. Folks turned up in large numbers to get the services and the medical team managed to test 265 people and vaccinate 258 people against Hepatitis B.

Dr. Simon Kibias - Head, Directorate of Health Standards, Quality Assurance and Regulation, MOH giving the keynote address on behalf of Dr. Patrick Amoth - Ag. Director General, MOH during the commemoration ceremony at KNH

PHOTO | ELIJAH NG’ANG’A

The National Police Service marching band leading the health walk towards KNH in commemoration of World Hepatitis Day 2022

ELIJAH NG’ANG’A