The Gauteng Department of Health will join the world in commemorating World Hepatitis Day on 28 July by raising awareness and educating the community about this disease in Carltonville, West Rand.
Symptoms of viral hepatitis include jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and eyes, fatigue, abdominal pains, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, low grade fever, headache and dark urine.
In a statement, the department’s Steve Mabona said under the theme Elimination: Hepatitis affects everyone, everywhere. Know it. Confront it, the Gauteng Department of Health is currently conducting health talks on the disease in crèches around Mogale City on the West Rand as a build-up towards the day.
The statement explained that viral hepatitis is a group of infectious disease known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E and the disease affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide– including those living in South Africa.
Viral hepatitis causes acute and chronic liver disease and killing close to over 1.5 million people every year, mostly from hepatitis B and C but these infections are preventable.
“The Department is calling for action to prevent, diagnose, and treat viral hepatitis by: vaccinating against hepatitis A and hepatitis B; using condoms and avoiding sharing of needles or items such as toothbrushes, razors or nail scissors with an infected person. It is also advisable to avoid getting tattoos or body piercings from unlicensed facilities, ensuring safe and rational use of injections. Injecting drug users are at increased risk of hepatitis C and B infections, largely because of unhygienic needle and syringe sharing practices,” said Mabona.
He urged practising safe hygiene and sanitation in order to prevent infection with hepatitis A and hepatitis E. Consuming safe food and avoiding drinking water that has come from a potentially unsafe source, as well as proper disposal of sanitary waste are good examples of safe hygiene and sanitation.
The statement further mentioned that hepatitis B and C viruses can cause chronic hepatitis, in which the infection is prolonged, sometimes lifelong. Chronic hepatitis can lead to liver cirrhosis, failure, and cancer. Hepatitis A and E usually resolve themselves.
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