MOMBASA (Kenya), July 29 (NNN-KBC) — The Ministry of Health has intensified efforts to combat viral hepatitis and Mpox in the country, citing increasing infection rates and low public awareness as key challenges.
Speaking in Mombasa during the commemoration of World Hepatitis Day, Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, revealed that approximately three per cent of Kenyans are living with Hepatitis B and C, with a majority of cases going undiagnosed due to limited awareness, particularly in rural areas.
Dr. Amoth emphasised the government’s commitment to eliminating the disease through community sensitisation and free access to treatment services.
“The government is covering the cost of treatment, meaning patients with Hepatitis B or C can now access medication free of charge,” said Dr. Amoth, noting that this move is expected to boost early diagnosis and effective disease management.
He added that Hepatitis C, which is curable, remains prevalent among people who inject drugs, with some regions, including Mombasa, reporting an exposure prevalence of up to 25 per cent, nearly 60 per cent of which are chronic infections.
Dr. Amoth noted that under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, the Ministry is working to decentralise testing and treatment services, especially in endemic and underserved regions.
On Mpox, Dr. Amoth confirmed 300 infections nationwide, with Mombasa County accounting for 138 cases and five deaths. He said the Ministry is working closely with the Mombasa County Government to enhance public awareness, scale up testing, and ensure confirmed patients are closely monitored and receive timely care.
In a speech delivered on behalf of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Dr. Amoth stressed the urgency of collaborative efforts to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat.
“This year’s World Hepatitis Day theme, ‘Let’s Break It Down,’ is a call for unified action by governments, communities, and partners to move beyond awareness and ensure equitable access to testing, treatment, and vaccination,” he stated.
He added that global statistics show that hepatitis claimed 1.1 million lives in 2022, with the African continent bearing the heaviest burden. Over 64 million Africans are living with Hepatitis B, accounting for 63 per cent of global infections. Alarmingly, 4.5 million children under five in Africa have chronic Hepatitis B, 70 per cent of the global burden in this age group.
“In Kenya, about 3 per cent of the general population lives with Hepatitis B, including five per cent of those living with HIV and four per cent of pregnant women,” said Dr. Amoth. “Among children under five, the national prevalence stands at 2.5 per cent, far above the global elimination target of less than 0.1 per cent,”.
Dr. Amoth called for accelerated implementation of the triple elimination agenda, which targets HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis B among pregnant women and children. He highlighted plans to integrate hepatitis services into the essential health benefits package under the newly established Social Health Authority.
“Free screening, confirmatory testing, access to curative Hepatitis C treatment, lifelong Hepatitis B therapy, and birth-dose vaccination are now part of our healthcare commitments,” he said.
The Ministry has also prioritised strengthening supply chains for antivirals and diagnostic tools, enhancing data collection systems, and engaging Community Health Promoters to combat stigma and increase service utilisation.
Dr. Amoth reaffirmed Kenya’s alignment with the World Health Organisation’s Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis (2022–2030), emphasising that reliable data and community involvement are key to eliminating the disease.
“We believe that with integrated services, robust accountability mechanisms, and community engagement, Kenya can meet the 2030 elimination targets,” he said. — NNN-KBC
