Many people in Uganda are living with chronic hepatitis B infection, an infection that causes liver cancer according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country advisor Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) surveillance, Dr. Innocent Mwesigye.

He says that Northern Uganda has the highest cases of chronic hepatitis B infection with over 25% of the population infected. Western Uganda registers about 7% cases of chronic hepatitis B infection.

Doctors tell us that the chronic hepatitis B infection virus reproduces in liver cells.

However the chronic hepatitis B infection virus itself is not the direct cause of damage to the liver. According to Dr. Mwesigye, hepatitis B is transmitted through sexual intercourse, illicit drug use and exposure to infected blood among other factors. The spread of the virus can be prevented through immunization.

The ministry of health and other health partners are vaccinating health providers against hepatitis B as one of the preventive measures to avoid contracting the virus due to blood contact with hepatitis B patients.

Walakira Nyanzi