Bangladesh has achieved hepatitis B control: WHO

Bangladesh is among the first four countries in WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve hepatitis B control, with prevalence of the deadly disease dropping to less than one percent among five-year-old children.

“Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand have become the first countries in WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve hepatitis B control…,” announced the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday.

The Expert Panel for Verification of hepatitis B Control in WHO South-East Asia Region recommended verification of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand, after reviewing childhood immunisation data that showed consistent over 90 percent coverage with hepatitis B vaccine doses provided during infancy for past many years.

Studies conducted on five-year-old children in these countries corroborated the high immunisation rates, and that hepatitis B prevalence in these four countries among children was less than one percent.

“Unwavering determination to reach every child, everywhere, every time, with life-saving hepatitis B vaccines through childhood immunisation 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.

These achievements come days before the World Hepatitis Day which focuses this year on “Invest in eliminating hepatitis”.

Though preventable, viral hepatitis kills 4,10,000 people in WHO South-East Asia Region every year, mostly people in their productive years. Nearly 90 million people suffer from chronic liver disease that is driving rates of liver cancer and cirrhosis in the region.