Several stakeholders in Ziguinchor, men and women, young and old, are now mobilized to combat hepatitis. A silent but dangerous disease that affects a large part of the population.

According to published figures, 13% of the population are victims of this pathology, according to Fatou Ngirane, president of the Network of Associations for the Fight Against Hepatitis (RALCH).

"We have a national program to combat hepatitis. It gives us a figure of 5 to 6%. We, in any case, see a lot of things at the local level on the ground. I think that perhaps the program or the Ministry of Health will be able to give you more details on this. But we limit ourselves to what we see on the ground. But in general, we do screenings where we have a minimum of 12 to 13% in the actions that we carry out," she indicated.

Field studies sufficiently demonstrate the need to address this pathology.

With this aim, these different actors intend to set up an association in Ziguinchor, after Kaffrine, Fatick, Thiès, Saint-Louis and Dakar.

"It is the ANCS that motivates us, that finances us so that we can go to all regions of Senegal to set up associations to fight against hepatitis. It is an association that has existed since 2011 and is recognized nationally and internationally [...]", clarified the president of the Network of Associations Fighting Against Hepatitis.

For Ms. Nguirane, awareness needs to be strengthened so that carriers, once detected, receive the necessary follow-up and avoid the terminal stage.

Ms. Seydi Assagouma Coly, coordinator of activities at the blood bank of the Peace Hospital, is involved in the program for the management of hepatitis B cases. She mentions the problem related to the late arrival of patients for treatment.

"We have seen that the disease is spreading in Ziguinchor, especially among young people. And people don't know about this disease. Most of the time, people come to us very late and there's nothing we can do for them. People can be screened in time so that they can be treated in time. It's possible. Being a carrier of hepatitis B is not a death sentence. And with the ignorance and lack of awareness among the population, it becomes a fatal disease when there is no reason why it should be," according to Ms. Seydi.