Sppecial webinar to present strategies, challenges, and lessons learned to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B in the African region, as part of the triple elimination (EMTCT) of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. The webinar will focus on the current situation, WHO guidance, and country implementation experiences.
This webinar aims to raise awareness among public health stakeholders and technical partners about the importance of integrating hepatitis B prevention into existing maternal and child health platforms, particularly those used for HIV PMTCT. It will highlight the WHO’s triple elimination strategy and showcase country experiences in overcoming implementation barriers, especially in the context of constrained international aid. The discussion will focus on practical solutions to accelerate progress towards EMTCT of hepatitis B by 2030.
Hepatitis B remains a major public health concern, with an estimated 296 million people living with chronic infection globally and over 1.2 million new infections each year. In 2022, Africa recorded approximately 771 000 new hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, with a significant proportion resulting from perinatal transmission. Without timely intervention, these infections place newborns at high risk of developing severe liver disease later in life.
Despite the availability of effective tools – including timely birth-dose vaccination, antenatal screening, and antiviral treatment for pregnant women – implementation remains limited in many African countries. Key challenges include low awareness, limited access to diagnostics (HBsAg, HBV DNA), frequent stock-outs of vaccines and antivirals, and fragmented maternal and child health services.
The session is in English and French with simultaneous interpretation.
Organizers/partners
- WHO, Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes (HHS) and Regional Office for Africa
- UNAIDS Western and central Africa
- Global Alliance to End pediatric Aids (Western and central Africa Hub)
Objectives
- present the latest WHO guidance on the prevention and management of hepatitis B within the framework of triple elimination;
- share concrete implementation experiences from different African countries as shared by ministries of health, civil society, researchers and technical and financial partners; and
- discuss current challenges related to the decline in international aid and identify actionable levers to accelerate progress towards EMTCT of hepatitis B by 2030.
Agenda
| Part 1: Global guidance and strategic overview | Chair: Niklas Luhmann (Global Hepatitis Programme, WHO) |
| Welcome and opening remarks | Georges Perrin (WHO Regional Office for Africa) |
| WHO guidelines | Casimir Manzengo Mingiedi (WHO Regional Office for Africa) |
| Hepatitis B immunization: Where we stand | Simbarashe Mabaya (GAVI) |
| Questions and answers | With Olufunmilayo Lesi (Global Hepatitis Programme, WHO) |
| Part 2: Country experiences and operational insights | Chairs: Mach Houd Kouton (UNAIDS) & Anne Bekelynck (Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes, WHO) |
| National approach to the EMTCT of hepatitis B | Dalitso Midiani (Chief Disease Control Officer, PMTCT Lead, Ministry of Health and Population, Malawi) |
| Findings from an operational research project | Alice Guingane (TRI-MOM, Burkina Faso) |
| Civil society experience | Boubacar Diouf (Enda Santé, Senegal) |
| Questions and answers | |
| Closing remarks | Jessica Hicks (World Hepatitis Alliance) |