29 July 2024 - With the theme “It’s time for action,” South Sudan joins the global community to celebrate World Hepatitis Day 2024. This day calls on all stakeholders to increase investment and enhance collaboration to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in the country.

Hepatitis remains one of the major health problems in South Sudan and the African region. As of 2022, 70 million people in Africa were infected with hepatitis B and C, leading to chronic liver disease, liver cancer, and significant mortality rates. New global data shows that over 254 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B worldwide, with over two million new cases recorded annually. Hepatitis has now become the world’s deadliest virus after COVID-19.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by various infectious viruses and noninfectious agents, including alcohol and certain drugs. It leads to a range of health problems, some of which can be fatal. Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

World Hepatitis Day, marked each year on 28 July, brings together stakeholders to highlight global efforts to promote prevention, testing, and treatment. This year's commemoration event in Juba, led by the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, gathered diverse audiences, including senior government officials, healthcare professionals, civil society, the donor community, and academia.

“While some progress has been made in the hepatitis response, there is still a long way to go,” said Honourable Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Health. “In South Sudan, priority interventions such as testing, vaccination, and treatment remain inaccessible to the populations most severely affected or at higher risk. For example, Hepatitis B birth dose is yet to be introduced in the EPI programme in South Sudan. Less than 2% of the population infected with the virus is aware of their status, and correspondingly, less than 1% access effective treatments.”

Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative for South Sudan, emphasized the need to leverage existing prevention and treatment tools to address the high hepatitis burden. An effective vaccine and treatment for Hepatitis B and a cure for Hepatitis C exist. “The introduction of the Hepatitis B birth dose can remarkably reduce new infections. Additionally, implementing blood safety strategies, including quality-assured screening of all donated blood, can prevent the transmission of Hepatitis B and C,” said Dr. Karamagi.
World Hepatitis Day 2024 underscores the critical need for concerted efforts and increased investment to combat hepatitis in South Sudan and beyond.