The Ministry of Health has Friday revealed it has embarked on phase 4 of the Hepatitis B control activities in 31 districts across the Country.
According to a press release issued by the Office of the Director General-Public Relations Unit, the activities are expected to run up to October 2021 in the districts of implementation.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Ministry of Health senior Public Relations Officer, said the hepatitis control activities include; testing all adolescents and adults born before 2002 (19 years and above), testing and vaccination for those who test negative at all HCIIIs, HCIVs, General Hospitals, Regional Referral Hospitals and outreach posts and linking those who test positive for Hepatitis B for further evaluation, treatment and monitoring.
“This is conducted at the levels of HC IVs, General Hospitals and Regional Referral Hospitals,” he said.
Ainebyoona further explained that through National Medical Stores, the Ministry has availed adequate test kits and Hepatitis B vaccines to all districts including Kampala City Council.
Under phase 4 of the Hepatitis B Control activities, the districts are divided into regions;
Central 1
Kampala Metropolitan Area, Masaka, Rakai, Kyotera, Kalangala, Mpigi, Biftambala, Gomba, Sembabule, Bukomansimbi, Lwengo, Kalungu and Lyantonde.
South Western region
Kisoro, Kanungu, Rubanda, Rukiga, Rwampara, Rukungiri, Ntungamno, Isingiro, Sheema, Mbarara, Buhweju, Mitooma, Ibanda, Kiruhura, Kazo, Kabale, Rubirizi and Bushenyi.
The distribution in Kampala across the five divisions is as follows:
Kawempe Division
St. Kizito Bwaise, Bwaise health clinic, Pillars clinic, Kisansa Maternity, Akugoba Maternity, Kyadondo Medical Center, Mbogo Health Clinic, Mbogo Health Clinic, Kawempe Hospital, Kiganda Maternity, Venus med center, Kisaasi COU HC, Komamboga HC, Kawempe Home care, Mariestopes, St. Nicholus Clinic, St. Stephen’s Hospital, Mulago NSW hospital, Mulago NR hospital, Maria Asumpta Maternity, Abii Clinic and MM Clinic.
Central Division
Kisenyi HC IV, City hall clinic, Makerere University Hospital, Adventist medical Centre, KCCA, Vine Medicare HC Il, Mengo Doctors clinic, St Catherine hospital, Kampala hospital, Case hospital, Kiira road police barracks, Old Kampala police barracks, Wandegeya police barracks, Fire bridge police barracks, Jinja road police, Summit army barracks and Police mechanic.
Nakawa Division
KCCA Bukoto Health Centre Ill, Butabika Hospital, Kiswa Health Centre Ill, China Uganda friendship regional referral hospital, Naguru, Mbuya army barracks health Centre, Luzira staff clinic/ Murchison bay HC IV, Naguru police health Centre, Benedicts medical Centre, St Stephen’s Dispensary and Maternity HC Ill, Banda community health Centre Ill, Bugolobi medical Centre, Paragon hospital, UMC Victoria hospital, Ntinda hospital, St Luke Health Centre Ill, Kyosima maternity and nursing home, Malcom health care, Bethany women’s and family hospital, Goodwill Polly clinic HC Ill, Kitintale hospital and Kampala independent hospital.
Makindye Division
Kisugu HC Ill, Maria Thereza Domiciliary Clinic HC Il, Martyr’s Family Clinic and Maternity Home – Gaba HC Il, Nakulabye Medical Centre HCII, Nsambya Police Clinic HC Ill, Military Police, Wentz Medical Clinic, St. Francis Nsambya Hospital, Vine Medicare HCII, Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, Zaam Clinic HC Il, Pearl medical center, Kibuli Hospital, Mukwaya General Hospital, International Hospital Kampala, Virgo and Hope clinic Lukuli.
Rubaga Division
Kawaala HC IV, Kiteebi HC Ill, Mengo hospital, Rubaga hospital, Kiteebi HC Ill, Galilee hospital, Namugona orthodox hospital, Made safe hospital, Busabala Rd nursing home, Joy medical Centre and Church of God Medical Centre.
The Health Ministry noted that the following health facilities are designated treatment centres for those who test positive for Hepatitis B:
Central Division( Kisenyi HC IV, Makerere University Hospital), Makindye Division (Kisugu HC Ill, Kirrudu NRH), Nakawa Division (Naguru RRH, Murchison Bay Hospital, Butabika NRH, Kiswa HCIII), Kawempe Division (Komamboga HCIII, Kawempe NRH, Mulago Ward 5 and 6, Mulago specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital), Rubaga Division (Kawala HCIII, Kitebi HCIII).
Ainebyoona also noted that government is committed to achieving the World Health Organization (WHO) targets to eliminate Viral hepatitis by the year 2030.
The efforts so far made include; Introduction of hepatitis B vaccine in the routine immunization schedule in 2002 given to all infants, meaning that all persons born after 2002 have received the hepatitis vaccine.
The other strategies employed to curb Hepatitis B include; mandatory testing and vaccination of all health care workers for Hepatitis B, screening of all donated blood against transfusion-transmittable Infections such as HIV, syphilis, including Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C and introduction of non-reusable injection devices at all public health care facilities.
The Ministry also implemented a phase-based approach testing and vaccinating of adolescents and adults born after 2002 for Hepatitis B, according to Ainebyoona.
“This phased approach started in 2015, beginning with regions of high prevalence scaling down to regions of low prevalence; phase 1 in Northern region, phase 2 in the eastern region, phase 3 in the central II and midwestern regions and now phase 4 in the central 1 and south western regions,” he said.
He appealed to all eligible persons to take up the available testing, vaccination and treatment services that have been availed at no cost.
