Cost of vaccine derailing fight against hepatitis

Doctors at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital are warning that the expensive hepatitis B vaccine and lack of adequate resources are derailing efforts to curb the spread of deadly disease.

“The cost of vaccination may result in more deaths unless urgent measures are put in place,” warned Dr Faraj Some, a physician at the hospital in Eldoret.

In the past four months hepatitis B has claimed more than 30 lives in Kerio Valley region, raising fears among health experts that the contagious disease was likely to cause more deaths unless intervention measures are put in place. More than 200 people are suspected to have contracted the disease in Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo and West Pokot counties.

The viral disease spreads through body fluids and the virus can survive in the body for many years, and progress into liver cancer if left untreated.

The disease can be contracted through blood transfusion, unprotected sex, sharing toothbrushes and sharp unsterilised objects such as needles. Symptoms include mild fever, headache, lack of appetite, vomiting, stomach pains and general body weakness.

SCREENING AND IMMUNISATION

There are no official statistics on the status of the disease in Kenya. In Elgeyo Marakwet County, the disease reportedly claimed the life of a health worker who died late last year in Kapyego, while five people died in Tambach, Moiben, Kuserwo, Kapsowar and Cherang’any-Chebororwa Wards.

According to Health Permanent Secretary Peter Tum residents from the affected counties are to undergo screening and immunisation in a bid to curb the spread of the disease. The national government will partner with county governments to fight the outbreak.

Elgeyo Marakwet County Executive Committee, Health Kiprono Chepkok said the statistics were worrying.

“We are asking our people go for screening and vaccination for lifetime immunity because from the tests done by the county so far, the infection is widespread,” said Mr Chepkok.

Health experts said the infection rate is high among health workers because of their close contact with infected persons.

Governor Alex Tolgos said his administration had lowered the cost of vaccination from Sh1,000 to Sh600 after new cases were recorded in the region.

"The increasing number of people testing positive is worrying. We have to make sure that our people are vaccinated. Having eight people test positive in such a healthy population is serious," said Mr Tolgos.

In West Pokot, where nine people are reported to have died in the past seven months, Serewo, Chepareria, Chepkono, Nyangaita and three other villages have been identified as high-risk areas.