Eliminating viral hepatitis in the context of UHC

Session title Eliminating Viral Hepatitis in the context of

Universal Health Coverage
Coordinator World Hepatitis Alliance
Hosts World Hepatitis Alliance
Session Objectives
  • Improve understanding of viral hepatitis and its impact on the African region
  • Highlight the part viral hepatitis plays in achieving Universal Health Coverage
  • Demonstrate that a comprehensive hepatitis response which is integrated and decentralized will strengthen health systems, in particular at the primary care level
  • Discuss the importance of patient centered care and the role of integrated programmes which are designed in partnership with the affected community in achieving that.
Session Abstract Hepatitis B and C affect 325 million people worldwide, 70 million in the African region, and claim 1.4 million lives annually, with mortality rising. This is despite the fact that solutions exist, a vaccine and effective treatment for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C. At the World Health Assembly in 2016, countries adopted the Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis and made the historic commitment to eliminate hepatitis by 2030. However, progress to date has been slow with many of the barriers to elimination amplified in the African region.

Efforts to eliminate hepatitis should be considered within the context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The high-level declaration on UHC calls on to countries to address communicable diseases, including hepatitis, as part of UHC efforts and to advance ‘comprehensive approaches and integrated service delivery’. These commitments by countries must now be implemented on the ground. This session will demonstrate that integrated hepatitis programmes strengthen multiple aspects of a health care system, including maternal and child health services, infection control and improving the capacity of primary health care services, a key aspect of achieving UHC. It will also highlight that integrated services are cost-effective and promote patient centered care, ensuring that no one is left behind. The elimination of viral hepatitis can drive efforts towards UHC but action must be accelerated if this is to become a reality. This session will celebrate successes within the region, address the challenges and call on all stakeholders to help drive the response.
Session Format  Panel Discussion 
Virtual session link Click here
Chairs Chair: World Hepatitis Alliance representative

Co-Chair: Kenneth Kabagambe, Executive Director,
The National Organisation for People Living with Hepatitis B, Patient representative, Uganda
Speakers Title Contact Status
Speaker 1
(Policy/Government)		 A national response to hepatitis B within the framework of UHC Ministry of Health representative TBC
Speaker 2
(Academia)		 100 million healthy lives – hepatitis C elimination as a catalyst to improve health Professor Manal El-Sayed, Professor of Pediatrics at Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt TBC
Speaker 3
(Civil Society)		 The role of civil society in strengthening integrated approaches Dr Alioune Coulibaly, President,  APSAD/MALI, Mali Confirmed
Speaker 4
(Private sector)		 Diagnostics as a tool for breaking down vertical programmes Diagnostics industry representative TBC
Speaker 5
(Optional)		 The landscape for viral hepatitis in the African Region WHO AFRO representative Tentative
Speaker 6
(Optional)		 UHC UHC 2030 representative TBC

Event Timeslots (1)

ROOM 3 ROYAL PALM
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PD 12