Baringo heaves under Hepatitis B burden as patients battle stigma

21-year-old Victor Cherono who is battling Hepatitis B. [Mercy Kahenda, Standard] Despite losing two of his family members to Hepatitis B disease, Victor Cherono is holding on to hope and strictly adhering to the treatment routine. His mother died of the disease in 2016, while his elder brother followed two years later. The 21-year-old from Mochongoi, Baringo County, is not only reeling from the emotional loss but also battling the disease which he was diagnosed with in 2019. It all began with a severe headache, fever and lack of appetite. "Being diagnosed with Hepatitis B, after the death of my mother and brother, was so devastating. My world came to an end," Cherono narrates. Cherono was then a Form Two student. He was put on treatment but had self-stigma. "I had fears of my peers knowing I was suffering from Hepatitis B, and worse, the treatment was similar to that of HIV/AIDS. I was put on Antiretroviral (ARV) medicine," says Cherono. He was also isolated by family members who feared he would infect them with the viral disease. "Imagine living with family members who avoid your handshake, sharing utensils and bedding and walking away from you in fear of infecting them with a disease," he says. A doctor advised him to adhere to treatment to suppress viral load and to prevent infecting others with the disease. Gradually, Cherono accepted his status. Today, he is an anti-Hepatitis B champion, sensitising people about the disease, its transmission and treatment. "Contracting Hepatitis B is not a death sentence. Anyone diagnosed with the disease should accept their status and adhere to treatment instructions," he says. The disease, he says, has been killing people in his locality in the recent years. "People do not seek treatment when they contract Hepatitis B because of fear of being isolated, only to present at a chronic stage resulting in deaths," observes Cherono. Florence Kiprono, from Maji Moto, was diagnosed with the disease in 2014. Kiprono, in the company her neighbours and friends, had gone to Marigat Sub County Hospital to be vaccinated against the disease. However, she tested Hepatitis B positive. "I was so shocked. I remembered chief's barazas where we had been told about how dangerous the disease is. My mind was fresh of memories of my neighbours- a woman and police officer who died of Hepatitis. We had been told Hepatitis kills faster than AIDS," she recalls. A doctor at the facility counselled and later put her on treatment. She was encouraged to adhere to treatment routine to prevent infecting family members. For the past 10 years, she has been taking medicine. "Collecting Hepatitis medicine at hospital was the hardest task because they are ARVs, which are collected in clinics where HIV patients get their drugs," Kiprono says. She also had her family members tested, who turned negative. "I am happy none were infected, and I took precaution to prevent their infection," she narrates. Treatment, she says, helps suppress the viral load, limiting chances of transmitting the disease. While the community has now accepted her, it initially isolated her. "People feared greeting me because they feared I would infect them through sweat," she recalls. Initially, locals associated the disease with witchcraft and kept off testing and treatment. The disease presents with general body weakness, diarrhoea and lack of appetite. "I encourage people to go for Hepatitis B screening to avoid damage to vital organs like lungs, kidneys and liver," Kiprono says. Sumukwo Ibrahim, a clinical officer in Baringo, notes that the burden of Hepatitis B is overwhelming. The disease is common in Marigat, Tiaty, Baringo North Sub County and Baringo Central. "The public is being sensitized on the existence of Hepatitis and the need to go for a test. Those who test positive undergo a confirmatory test and those with confirmed results are started on long term treatment," says Ibrahim. Hepatitis patients are put ARVs. Head of Viral, Hepatitis and Sexual Transmission Infections (STIs) at the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) Dr Nazila Ganatra adds that stigma greatly affects eradication of the disease. "Lack of awareness and stigma are among hitches derailing the elimination of Hepatitis," Dr Ganatra says in an interview. Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver that presents with pain or bloating of the belly, dark urine, fatigue and general body weakness. Other symptoms are loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. If not treated, it infects vital organs, including the kidney and lungs, leading to death. Dr Allan Chemist Rajula, a consultant physician and gastroenterologist, explains that Hepatitis B can be transmitted through all secretions - including sexual intercourse, saliva exchange, sweating and breast milk from mother to child at birth, vertical transmission and blood transfusion. According to the expert, adherence to treatment suppresses the virus, while averting underlying health complications like liver cirrhosis, cancer of the liver and kidney failures. At least 304 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis, with 254 million of them afflicted by Hepatitis B. Nascop data shows that in Kenya, approximately 1.9 million people are infected with hepatitis B and C viruses, majority of them with hepatitis B. The disease is endemic in Turkana, Baringo, and Migori, which post prevalence rates of 16.8, 11.9, and 10 per cent, respectively. Baringo CECM for Health Dr Solomon Sirma, says although measures are in place to vaccinate people to prevent the spread of the disease, stock shortage remains the main hitch. A single dose of Hepatitis B vaccine costs Sh250, a drug given in three doses.

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