Cameroon advances triple-elimination goals with national hepatitis survey of 10,000 women

CAMEROON—The Government of Cameroon and the Africa CDC, with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), have begun preparations for the country’s first nationally representative seroprevalence survey of hepatitis B and C among pregnant women.

The initiative comes days after the Africa CDC released an operational toolkit to support hepatitis B prevention, diagnosis, and management across Africa.

As part of preparations, laboratory commodities for the survey were handed over in Yaoundé following specialized training for laboratory personnel.

The survey will involve about 10,000 pregnant women across all 10 regions of Cameroon.

The exercise will generate the first nationally representative data on viral hepatitis among pregnant women in the country.

The findings will help Cameroon strengthen prevention programmes, improve maternal and newborn health services and accelerate efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B.

Strengthening hepatitis response

The initiative also forms part of wider efforts to strengthen laboratories, disease surveillance, and primary healthcare systems. These investments are intended to improve the country’s ability to address persistent health challenges while preparing for future public health emergencies.

Hepatitis B and C remain major causes of illness and death in Africa despite the availability of effective vaccines, diagnostic tests and treatments.

More than 64 million people across the continent live with chronic hepatitis B, while many do not know their infection status or lack access to care that could prevent cirrhosis, liver cancer and other complications.

Dr Landry Dongmo Tsague, Director of the Centre for Primary Health Care, who delivered remarks on behalf of Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya, said the handover represented an investment in healthier mothers, protected newborns and stronger health systems.

“By strengthening maternal and child health services, community health, digital health and surveillance, Cameroon is building a health system capable not only of eliminating hepatitis but also of responding to current and future public health threats,” he said.

Prof. Louis Richard Njock, Secretary General of Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, received the commodities on behalf of Minister of Public Health Dr Manaouda Malachie and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis.

“This survey will provide the evidence required to strengthen our national response, better protect pregnant women and newborns, and accelerate the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B,” he said.

Supporting triple elimination

The survey supports the African Union’s Triple Elimination Initiative, which seeks to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B by 2030 through integrated maternal, newborn and child health services.

Cameroon has expanded hepatitis B screening among pregnant women, introduced free antiviral prophylaxis for women who test positive, rolled out the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine, and increased access to treatment.

The new survey will provide evidence to guide policies, direct investments and improve services for women and children.

It forms part of Africa CDC’s Continental Viral Hepatitis Prevention, Control and Elimination Programme, which, with support from KOICA, WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank, has helped more than 30 African Union Member States strengthen hepatitis surveillance, laboratory systems, workforce capacity, diagnostics, treatment and national hepatitis programmes.