MoPH warns returnees, low public awareness increasing hepatitis risk — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Marking World Hepatitis Day, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) says more than 27,800 positive cases of hepatitis B and C have been recorded across Afghanistan since the beginning of 2026, warning that the return of migrants and low public awareness are increasing the risk of the disease spreading. World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on 28 July to raise awareness about hepatitis, promote prevention and encourage early diagnosis and treatment. Speaking at an event in Kabul on Tuesday, Deputy Public Health Minister for Healthcare Services Mawlawi Abdul Wali Haqqani said the occasion provided an important opportunity to raise public awareness and strengthen hepatitis prevention programmes. He said that although the prevalence of hepatitis in Afghanistan was lower than in some countries in the region, the return of migrants, economic hardship, the shared use of syringes, some substandard surgical services and limited public awareness continued to increase the risk of the disease spreading. He noted that many hepatitis infections and related complications could be prevented through vaccination, early diagnosis and timely treatment, adding that hepatitis diagnostic centres were operating across the country. According to MoPH figures, more than 1.826 million hepatitis B tests were conducted in 2025, with 43,161 returning positive results. Of the more than 1.545 million hepatitis C tests carried out during the same period, 16,172…