South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Ministry of Health has set up treatment centers for the hepatitis C and B at Juba Teaching Hospital.
Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Health said the centers will be used for screening, counseling, and creating awareness about the viral disease as well as vaccination.
“We will eventually have two centers. We have one center here in Juba Teaching Hospital that has only one or two things left to be added on to it and to be functional,” Awel said during the commemoration of World Hepatitis Day in Juba on Monday.
South Sudan on Monday, 29 July 2024, celebrated the World Hepatitis Day, which is observed annually on July 28th.
The celebrations were held under the theme “It’s Time for Action” with focus on raising awareness about the importance of early testing and treatment for hepatitis.
Awel disclosed that they are planning to set up another Hepatitis center in Wau Teaching Hospital in Western Bahr el Ghazal State to reduce the burden on the families and patients.
“We will have another center in Wau Teaching Hospital to reduce the cost, we would like also to reduce the burden on families and patients to come all the way from the northern part and the central parts of the province to Juba Teaching Hospital,” she said.
Awel said the center at Juba Teaching Hospital will provide health services to patients living with the chronic disease.
“Screening and counseling will be provided and health education to increase awareness about the viral disease will be provided, and also vaccination for those tested negative,” she disclosed.
Dr. Mutale Nsakashalo Senkwe, Representative of World Health Organization (WHO) in South Sudan urged the government to embrace new technologies in diagnostics, vaccines and treatment to advance the elimination of hepatitis by 2030.
“Today, we witness a huge milestone in this direction, and of course we look forward to the time when hepatitis B growth dose will be introduced in South Sudan,” Nsakashalo said.
She reiterated WHO’s continuous approach towards provision of the necessary guidance in the introduction of the latest tools for the prevention, vaccines and treatment of hepatitis.
“This day should be remembered as the beginning of our relentless fight against hepatitis B and C and all the other forms of hepatitis, for us to be able to achieve a hepatitis-free future for all the South Sudanese,” Nsakashalo said.
According to the statistics from the Ministry of Health, about 10 percent of the population is living with chronic Hepatitis B and C infection.
Hepatitis is a liver infection caused by the virus.
