At least six people have tested positive for Hepatitis B in Kabale District after the District Health Department started routine free screening and vaccination against the disease early this month.
In February this year, the Ministry of Health rolled out free screening and
vaccination against hepatitis B in Central and Western Uganda after local
leaders and Members of Parliament (MPs) from Central Uganda repeatedly petitioned the Ministry of Health demanding for free vaccination against the virus citing prohibitive costs and fake vaccines administered by private health workers.
Speaking to our reporter today in his office in Makanga in Kabale Municipality, the acting Kabale District Health Officer, Dr. Alfred Besigensi
said that out of over 10,000 people who were tested for Hepatitis B in the district, six have tested positive for the disease.
Besigensi explained that the district received 31, 200 doses for Hepatitis B
vaccines and the vaccination is at Health Centre IIIs, IVs and hospitals in
the district targeting 120,000 people above 18 years.
He added that those who will be screened and found positive for the virus will be enrolled on medication while those that test negative are urged to undergo vaccination against the disease.
The Hepatitis virus, most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids, can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hepatitis B is also spread by needle stick injury, tattooing, piercing and
exposure to infected blood and body fluids, such as saliva and, menstrual,
vaginal, and seminal fluids.
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