Marlène Seck has introduced her toddler daughter to the Philippe Maguilene Senghor Well being Centre in Yoff, Senegal, to be vaccinated in opposition to hepatitis B. The infant cries as she receives her jab, however the tears are value it: having acquired her first dose at delivery, that is her third dose of the life-saving vaccine.
“We moms have come to get our youngsters vaccinated as a result of it has a whole lot of benefits,” says Marlène. “The vaccine protects our youngsters from future issues.”
Marlène Seck has introduced her toddler daughter to the Philippe Maguilene Senghor Well being Centre in Yoff, Senegal, to be vaccinated in opposition to hepatitis B. The infant cries as she receives her jab, however the tears are value it: having acquired her first dose at delivery, that is her third dose of the life-saving vaccine.
“We moms have come to get our youngsters vaccinated as a result of it has a whole lot of benefits,” says Marlène. “The vaccine protects our youngsters from future issues.”
In sub-Saharan Africa, round 82 million individuals are contaminated with Hepatitis B, which might result in cirrhosis of the liver or most cancers. It takes many years after an infection from the virus, earlier than a person begins manifesting signs. Round 4 million youngsters in Africa are contaminated with Hepatitis B. Round 80,000 individuals within the continent die yearly from the persistent an infection.
“We moms have come to get our youngsters vaccinated as a result of it has a whole lot of benefits. The vaccine protects our youngsters from future issues.” Marlène Seck, mom
In Senegal, round 1.2 million individuals are contaminated with Hepatitis B. Again in 2004, Senegal launched the vaccine in opposition to the Hepatitis B virus for infants at six weeks of age, together with the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. However now, Senegal has added the delivery dose, leading to an enormous discount of mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B, with lower than 1% of youngsters under-five contaminated in 2021.
Senegal now leads Africa in new child vaccinations – 78% of newborns are vaccinated in opposition to hepatitis B, inside 24 hours after being born.
“If we get to vaccinate each single baby inside 24 hours after they’re born, adopted by at the very least 2 further doses, we’ll get rid of this illness and the associated cancers,” says Dr Ousseynou Badiane, Head of the Expanded Programme on Immunization of Senegal’s Ministry of Well being and Social Motion.
With coverage steering and coaching from WHO, nurses have strengthened their monitoring of vaccination data and outreach to moms who’ve dwelling births.
“We’re in direct contact with the moms. We clarify to them how vaccination is vital to get rid of sure illnesses,” says Binnette Thiaw, a nurse on the Philippe Maguilene Senghor Well being Centre. “We handle to vaccinate 90 to 100 children each day right here.”
Solely 14 nations within the area now embrace it as a part of their routine vaccination programme. WHO is looking on all nations to introduce the hepatitis B vaccination inside the first 24 hours of life.