Publications

The Zambia Population Based HIV impact assessment of 2016, reported the prevalence of viral hepatitis in Zambia as ranging between 5.6% among adults aged 15 to 59% in the general population, and 7.1% among HIV infected individuals. It is estimated that the majority of persons with chronic hepatitis B and/ or hepatitis C are unware of their infection and do not benefit from promotive, preventive and curative services designed to reduce onward transmission. Zambia introduced hepatitis B virus vaccine to the routine Under 5 vaccination schedule in 2005. Preliminary results from the ZAMPHIA indicate that hundreds of infections have been abated in children since then. However, its also clear that we continue to miss key opportunities to prevent transmission, diagnose and treat infections, prevent serious disease, and in many cases cure people. In addition, high risk groups inter alia health care workers still have limited access to the vaccine. The development of this implementation framework and clinical guidance for viral hepatitis prevention and treatment has come has come at an opportune time when our transformation agenda as a sector is promised on universal health coverage across the continuum care. By providing steps for the implementation of preventive measures, as well as providing guidelines for treatment, it will now be possible to standardize
preventive high impact interventions, as well as guide health care workers at different levels at different levels of care on viral hepatitis management.