South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Medical Charity, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said it has treated 10,000 patients with hepatitis E in the country.
Yusra Shariff, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Advocacy Coordinator said these patients with chronic Hepatitis E virus were treated in old Fangak, Abyei, Bentiu, and Twic.
“Through case management and vaccination campaigns in different areas where we operate. Our teams have cumulatively managed about 10,000 hepatitis E cases in old Fangak, Abyei, Bentiu, and Twic, Shariff said during celebration of World Hepatitis Day in Juba on Monday.
Shariff disclosed that they have also vaccinated over 100,000 people in Bentiu, and old Fangak, areas where hepatitis E has increasingly become common and almost endemic.
She underscored the importance of prevention, which she said remained the cornerstone strategy to combat the disease.
“We understand that hepatitis E has been validated in the National Immunization Strategy, which I think is quite a milestone in the country.”
She believed hepatitis B vaccination at birth is effective reducing mother-to-child transmission which provides long-term health benefits.
“MSF is eager to contribute and collaborate within the efforts to introduce hepatitis B vaccination. We are eager to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to introduce this vaccination in our project areas.”
“By starting this effort, we can help protect newborns and contribute to a healthier future for South Sudan,” she said.
She urged the Ministry of Health to give them greenlight to start vaccination programs in its supported facilities across the country.
“By working together, we can make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of the nation. Our collaboration has the potential not only to improve the health outcomes of the children.”
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by infection with hepatitis E virus.
Inflammation is swelling that occurs when tissues of the body become injured or infected.
Viruses that cause Hepatitis E invade normal cells in the body.
