Community Hepatitis Outreach
Nyakayaga Village and Surrounding Areas, Uganda
2022
I can’t wait to stop the discrimination of people living with Hepatitis.
This two-day medical outreach aimed to raise awareness, screen, and link individuals to care for Hepatitis B, C, and D in Nyakayaga village, where knowledge and prevention of hepatitis remain limited. The campaign addressed critical gaps in Uganda’s public health response to viral hepatitis, which remains under-prioritized compared to other communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Objectives
- Raise awareness about Hepatitis B, C, and D
- Educate on prevention, control, and transmission
- Screen for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
- Collect samples and refer positive patients for care
- Initiate treatment and monitoring for eligible patients
Services Provided
- General consultation
- Laboratory testing (HBsAg, glucose, etc.)
- Hepatitis B vaccination
- Health education sessions
- Blood donation services
Team & Departments
- Medical doctors, lab technicians, nurses, counselors, support staff
- Participation from medical students (KIU & Mbarara University)
- Local authorities and community leaders supported mobilization
Partners Involved
- Ministry of Health, Uganda
- NOPLHB
- Hepatitis B Foundation
- Hep Free S-W Organisation
- Uganda Blood Transfusion Services
- Kampala International University
- Mbarara University of Science and Technology
- Local District Authorities
Resources & Materials Used
- MUAC tape, weighing scale, BP machines, stethoscopes
- Hepatitis B test kits, glucometers, sample containers, PPE
- Waste management bins and data collection tools
Outreach Results
- Total Targeted: 500
- Tested: 204 (113 females, 91 males)
- Positive Cases: 22 (9 females, 13 males)
- Known cases (follow-up): 6
Key Findings & Lessons Learned
- Poor community awareness and widespread misinformation
- Adult males were less likely to participate in testing
- Cultural misconceptions and fear surrounding vaccination
- Financial and logistical barriers to follow-up care
Reccomendations
- Increase funding for hepatitis programming in Uganda
- Integrate hepatitis education and services into existing health campaigns
- Partner with international agencies (PEPFAR, WHO, CDC, etc.) to support local efforts
- Invest in research, local vaccine production, and academic collaboration
- Promote community-wide sensitization, especially targeting adult males and families
- Commemorate World Hepatitis Day annually with outreach and advocacy campaigns