World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Maldives has achieved Hepatitis B control.
Heath Protection Agency (HPA) said today that WHO had made this declaration based on a serological survey which showed increasing numbers of Hepatitis B vaccines have been administered to infants during the past years, and a low prevalence of the disease being recorded.
HPA said that tests were conducted on students between the age of six and seven, and no cases of infection were found.
The survey further revealed that Maldives has established stringent steps to screen pregnant women for the disease, provide treatment to pregnant women found to be infected, and to provide preventive care to infants born from hepatitis B positive mothers.
Along with Maldives, Sri Lanka has also reached this achievement.
“I congratulate and commend Maldives and Sri Lanka on their achievement which once again demonstrates the earnest efforts being made by the health leaders and officials, health workers and the people of these countries towards health and well-being of communities,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia.
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