Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr,
Bernard Haufiku, has launched an investigation into the claim that the coast of
Namibia is experiencing a shortage of hepatitis drugs. The particular drugs in
question are used to address Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the
liver transmitted fecal-orally through such mediums as contaminated water or
food that is not cooked properly. Most commonly it is transmitted by improper
food preparation that is then served to a large number of people. The acute
disease can be very uncomfortable and results in febrile illness and dark
urine, but most people survive the disease and clear it completely.
Hepatitis B is also a virus that affects
the liver. It is mostly transmitted from mother to child during child birth,
during sex, or through IV drug use. While acute illness is not necessarily life
threatening, and a majority of people pass the illness without difficulty, a
significant proportion of people develop chronic infection which drastically
increases their chances of both transmitting the infection and developing liver
cancer/cirrhosis.
Both viruses have effective vaccines
available which are part of the Namibian government’s mandatory vaccination
schedule.
Doctors have claimed that, for the last years
now, they have had difficulty acquiring hepatitis drugs for their patients
because the drugs are constantly out of stock. Even inquiring up the chain of
command has not yielded any answers as to why there is no stock and/or how
doctors might acquire more of these drugs for their patients.
Government officials aim to find out
whether the lack of access to these drugs is due to a lack of funds to purchase
them or a delay from the manufacturer.
~Scarlett
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