Africa-Press – Zambia. The Center for Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) is concerned with the number of medical personnel being exposed to hepatitis B virus in Kalulushi.
CIDRZ Coordinator Simuyandi Michelo has disclosed that out of 641 participants enrolled in the hepatitis B research programme, 66 percent had prior exposure to hepatitis B.
Mr. Michelo, who was speaking during a dissemination workshop on protecting health care workers against Hepatitis B infection in Kalulushi, said according to the research, 4.6 percent of those tested were currently infected.
“There is very little knowledge about hepatitis B prevention and vaccination among health care workers,” said Mr. Michelo.
And Copperbelt Province Acting Health Director Charles Sakulanda is impressed with CIDRZ for running a research programme to protect health workers against hepatitis B in Kalulushi.
Dr. Sakulanda said hepatitis B is the main cause for liver diseases. “The main aim of this pilot programme is to see how the Ministry of Health can implement a vaccination programme to protect health care workers against hepatitis B,” he said. The pilot research is running under the theme ‘a healthy workforce equals a healthy nation’.
For More News And Analysis About Zambia Follow Africa-Press
