The Declaration of Rabat: An update

Level of screening for and vaccination against hepatitis B among healthcare workers in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: a public health concern

“…We found that 47.7% of HCWs had been screened for HBV, a lower screening rate than in Uganda (75.2%) [ 7 ] but higher than in Tanzania, where only 9% of HCWs were aware of their HBV status [ 13 ]. Although the 6.7% HCW vaccination rate we observed is higher than the 3.8% in HCW in Bukavu in South Kivu DRC [ 10 ], it is extremely low than in many other countries in Africa. Out of a sample of 348 HCWs in Tanzania, 198 (56.9%) were fully vaccinated [ 14 ], of 286 HCWs in Ethiopia 58.6% were fully vaccinated [ 15 ].…”

“…In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), health and education systems have been disrupted by multiple socio-political instabilities. Although its prevalence of HBV infection is among the highest in the world [ 9 ], the overall risk of these infections to HCWs is largely unknown [ 10 ]. A survey conducted in Bukavu, a town in South Kivu DRC, revealed that HCWs had a low level of knowledge about HBV and only 3.8% of vaccinated HCWs had received the complete vaccination schedule of three vaccine doses [ 10 ].…”

“…HBV screening and diagnosis are vital for access to appropriate prevention, care and treatment services [ 7 ]. The DRC had endorsed ‘the call of RABAT’ in 2009 to implement concrete strategies for the reduction of HBV prevalence [ 10 ]. These strategies include the promotion of preventive actions, such as reduction in mother-to-child HBV transmission and mandatory vaccination of all HCWs (i.e., medical doctors, students, nurses, laboratory students and laboratory technicians) [ 11 , 12 ].…”