Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng has called on the government and global donors to increase funding to fight hepatitis in South Sudan.
Speaking during World Hepatitis Day in Juba on Monday, Deng emphasized the urgent need for action, as the country is currently lagging behind in treatment, prevention, and screening due to limited resources.
“I am not shy about saying that we need to increase domestic funding and international funding for health. Health matters are national security matters, and they are not only for the government; they are for all of us. You do your part as a citizen, and the government will do its part,” she said.
The WHO Technical Officer in South Sudan, Dr Mutale Nsakashalo Senkwe, who represented the Country Representative, stressed the need for implementing blood safety strategies, including quality-assured screening of all donations, to prevent the transmission of hepatitis B and C.
“Introduction of a hepatitis B growth dose can remarkably reduce new infections. In addition, implementing blood safety strategies, including quality-assured screening of all the donated blood, can prevent transmission of hepatitis B and C,” Senkwe said.
“WHO urges the government of South Sudan to embrace new technologies in diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments to advance the elimination of hepatitis by 2030, which is just six years from now.
“Today, we witnessed a huge milestone in this direction, and of course, we look forward to the time when hepatitis B growth dose will be introduced in South Sudan,” she said.
The World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28. This year’s focus is on raising awareness about the importance of early testing and treatment.
According to the statistics from the Ministry of Health, about 10 percent of the South Sudanese were living with chronic Hepatitis B and C infection.