title: [Fighting viral hepatitis B and C in Africa. Focus on Benin].
abstract: Despite the existence of effective means of fighting viral hepatitis B and C, they remain one of the leading causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa. The failure to take these diseases into account in national health policies in most African countries has resulted in a scarcity of information campaigns and actions for prevention, the unavailability of epidemiological indicators and data for action, and a lack both of policies to screen patients and refer them for follow-up or treatment and of training programs for health professionals in managing hepatitis. Awareness by countries and the international community is absolutely necessary to make the fight against hepatitis a public health priority. Beyond a noticeable decrease in the prevalence of hepatitis B and C and primary liver cancer, the final target is the eradication of hepatitis B, the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide, through universal vaccination of newborns within 24 hours of birth.
authors.affiliation: Point focal Bénin de l'Initiative panafricaine de lutte contre les hépatites (IPLH), Service d'hépato-gastro-entérologie. Centre national hospitalier et universitaire de Cotonou, Bénin.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kodjoh
mesh_terms: D001541:Benin; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
chemical_list: D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
keywords: Africa; hepatitis B; hepatitis C