Hepatitis is a silent epidemic with more than 90 million people living
with the disease in Africa. representing 26 per cent of the global total.
The World Health Organisation, WHO, says more than 124,000
Africans die each year as a result of undiagnosed and untreated hepatitis.
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said this in her
message to commemorate World Hepatitis Day, aimed at increasing
awareness of the disease under the theme: `Hepatitis can’t wait’.
She added that the WHO Regional Office for Africa was developing
training materials in order to help countries implement the five hepatitis
core interventions and decentralise diagnosis and treatment.
She also called on individuals to seek testing and treatment for hepatitis
and to learn more about the disease so as to end the silent epidemic.
