WHO Honors Nepal for Reducing Hepatitis B Prevalence to Less than 1 Pc

Nepal marked another health milestone for itself at the global level for controlling Hepatitis B by bringing the prevalence of the deadly disease to less than one percent among five-year-old children.

The Himalayan Nation was honored by the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region for its achievement in controlling the deadly Hepatitis disease.

Nepal’s Health Ministry was among the six countries’ health ministries to be honored for their public health achievements at the WHO’s 72^nd Session of the Regional Committee for South-East Asia at New Delhi, India.

“Unwavering determination to reach every child, everywhere, every time, with life-saving Hepatitis B vaccines through childhood immunization, has made this achievement possible. These successes are a testimony of the countries’ commitment to health of their people, and the untiring efforts being made by health workers and communities for the well-being of children,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia.

Nepal, among four countries, was reviewed based on childhood immunization data that showed that the country maintained 90 percent consistency in providing Hepatitis B vaccines during infancy for over many years.

The Expert Panel for Verification of Hepatitis B Control under the WHO South-East Asia Region then recommended that the above data be verified.

Studies conducted on five-year-old children in the four countries proved that Hepatitis B immunization rates were high and the disease’s prevalence was less than one percent.

Nepal’s Health Minister (also Deputy Prime Minister) Upendra Yadav received the WHO honor for Nepal. Besides Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Thailand became the first South Asian countries to control Hepatitis B.

Likewise, Sri Lanka received recognition for eliminating Measles and Maldives for eliminating mother-to-child HIV and Syphilis transmission.

The Maldives Health Minister Abdulla Ameen received the WHO honor for Maldives.

“Disease eliminations have always been high on our agenda. When I talk about sustain, accelerate and innovate, ‘accelerate’ is to step up efforts to eliminate diseases like the neglected tropical diseases,” said Dr.Khetrapal.

Hepatitis B in the South-East Asia Region – Statistics

• Viral Hepatitis kills 410,000 people in the WHO South-East Asia Region every year, mostly people in their productive years.
• Preventing Hepatitis B infection during the early years after birth substantially reduces chronic infections and chances of liver cancer and cirrhosis in adulthood.

Nearly 90 million people in the South-East Asia Region suffer from chronic liver disease that further drives liver cancer and cirrhosis rates.

• Under the National Immunization Program, children across 11 WHO South-East Asia Region countries, get three doses of Hepatitis B vaccines within the first year after birth.

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