World Vision Albania raises awareness in Schools on Hepatitis A Prevention

A high number of 22 cases in the district were recorded for January alone this year, compared to 63 cases from the whole year of 2005.

There is no treatment for hepatitis A; however raising awareness on prevention is crucial to preventing disease from spreading.

Children are amongst those who are vulnerable to the disease due to their physical contact with other children at school.

Children are amongst those who are vulnerable to the disease due to their physical contact with other children at school “It is important to address the issue before it is turning into an epidemic. We have to find solutions now when there are ‘sporadic’ cases reported otherwise it will become harder”, stated Matilda Biqiku, Elbasan 2 ADP Team Leader.

The awareness raising meetings were held for one week in 11 schools throughout of Elbasan district, 45 Kilometers away from the Albanian capital, Tirana.

Awareness raising included providing preventative information which also included how to identify the disease. Children were also provided with information leaflets conveying simple preventive messages.

For the majority of the children, it was the first time they had been given such education.

A 7-year-old Megi Qosja, a child in program was diagnosed with Hepatitis A in the beginning of the year.

The child was released from the children hospital this week after nearly 2 months in an isolation unit of a local children hospital.

“Poor hygiene can cause children to become ill as well as eating unwashed fruits and vegetables from the market",said Suzana Gjevoni, Director of Primary Health Care.

Poor hygiene can cause children to become ill as well as eating unwashed fruits and vegetables from the market Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV).

HAV is found in the feces of people with hepatitis A and is usually spread by close personal contact. Eating food or drinking water contaminated with HAV can also spread the virus.

After the meeting, students became more aware of the hygiene conditions at school and received the central message that it is necessary to take preventive measure against the Hepatitis A Virus.