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VIDEO: Increased surveillance fuels hepatitis elimination in Africa

VIENNA — In this exclusive video from the International Liver Congress 2019, Olufunmilayo Lesi, FWACP, FMCP, from the University of Lagos in Nigeria, discusses the WHO’s goal for global elimination of viral hepatitis by the year 2030.

“There has been a lot of talk on how to do this and the WHO has five strategy directions toward accomplishing this goal,” Lesi told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease. “My concern has been with viral hepatitis in the sub-Saharan African region. To that effect, I have heard some studies on surveillance.”

Lesi spoke about the global reporting system the WHO released in 2018 that includes 10 core indicators of infection ranging from disease prevalence to cascade of care to evaluation of liver morbidity and mortality. These data require collaboration between public health physicians and clinicians, she said.

“Especially in Africa, where we have a great burden of disease, surveillance data will help us strengthen advocacy and the political commitment and will be important data to help us to improve he current hepatitis programs,” Lesi said. “At the end of the day, it is hoped that hepatitis elimination as a public health threat by the year 2030 will be a reality on the African continent as it is in all parts of the world.”

Disclosure: Lesi reports no relevant financial disclosures.