Malawi's frontline health workers face daily risks of hepatitis B infection due to shortages of protective equipment and inconsistent vaccine access, leading to hesitation in treating patients and fueling stigma, according to a report by Nation Online.
Tasungana Chiwala, hepatitis programme coordinator at Mwanza District Hospital, said clinicians sometimes delay treating patients with blood-borne diseases, especially during high-risk procedures. 'The hesitancy grows, particularly where there is a high risk of exposure to blood or body fluids during procedures. The delay leaves some patients feeling stigmatised,' she said.
Chiwala attributed the fear to PPE shortages and gaps in hepatitis B vaccination. 'When PPEs, especially gloves and masks, have been in short supply, we prioritised high-risk procedures. Meanwhile, not all healthcare workers are fully vaccinated due to shortage of doses,' she said.
A study published on Springer Nature Link found that 25 out of 854 healthcare workers in Salima tested positive for hepatitis B, about three percent. The findings linked all infections to caregiving roles, underscoring the need for routine screening and early treatment.
Malawi has yet to introduce a universal hepatitis B birth-dose within 24 hours of delivery, exposing infected newborns to a 90 percent risk of chronic infection. Health Minister Madalitso Baloyi urged Malawians to know their hepatitis status and seek timely treatment to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Source: mwnation.com
