World Hepatitis Day: Population Invited To Get Vaccinated

 Fozao Vaniela

 The population of Bamenda and the North West Region as a whole have been advised to get vaccinated against Hepatitis in order to guard against the disease.

Vaccination Campaign

The call came from Mr. Simon Njoya, a Microbiologist at the Regional Hospital in Bamenda during activities to commemorate the 2022 edition of World Hepatitis Day, July 28 2022 with the theme: Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer To Everyone.

"All those who have been recently screened are advised to come back and get vaccinated in order to stay safe," Mr Njoya said.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver which has a wide range of causes. It can be caused by bacteria or fungi. The non- infectious hepatitis can be caused by alcohol and  drug abuse, antibiotics, traditional medicine and toxins. 

Findings have revealed that Hepatitis B and C are the leading causes of chronic hepatitis and it can lead to liver disease.

As pointed out by Mr. Njoya, Hepatitis B is 90% transmitted through contact with body fluids that contain the blood of infected persons.

To Dr. Njei Leonel, coordinator of Hepatitis Program at the Regional Hospital in Bamenda, practicing safe sex among others can also prevent someone from contracting the illness,

"Hepatitis B and C are the leading causes of chronic hepatitis and it can destroy the liver. Practice safe sex and avoid touching blood of people you don't know their status."

In order to better fight against the disease, members of the communities were involved. Hairstylists and those dealing in manicure and pedicure were targated given their nature of work.

Activities ahead of the 2022 edition of World Hepatitis Day included sensitization campaigns on the different radio stations in Bamenda. 

Vaccination Exercise at The Bamenda Regional Hospital

The aim was to raise awareness about the disease which ended up with  about 750 people being screened.

There was also free vaccination against Hepatitis and the targeted age group was those aged 17 and above.

It should be noted that the Cameroon government introduced hepatitis vaccine into the expanded program of immunization in 2005.

Some children born after 2005 have been vaccinated while those born before 2005 are at risk including those who have been vaccinated because not everybody who took the vaccine developed immunity as explained by Dr. Njei.

World hepatitis day is a day set aside to raise global awareness on viral hepatitis observed every 28th of July. Dr Baruch Blumberg is the doctor who discovered hepatitis B. The day is celebrated to encourage political action towards the fight against the disease and also to remember those who have died from the infection.

Vaccination and Registration


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