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The Government and development partners have embarked on a vaccination campaign against hepatitis B and C.
This came as details emerged that about 185 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C. The campaign, to be conducted in conjunction with the Kenya Aids Non-Governmental Organisations Consortium (Kanco) will last one month and will mainly target people who inject drugs.
Kanco Executive Director Allan Ragi said there were 18,000 people who inject drugs in the country mainly in Mombasa and Nairobi.
He, however, warned that the number could be higher, adding that the biggest challenge in fighting the disease was the high cost of treatment and acquiring the vaccine.
"Kanco has launched a campaign which offers free hepatitis B Vaccine, testing and vaccination for people who inject drugs nationwide," he said.
Mr. Ragi said the drive, which was supported by donors and some State departments, would target Nairobi and various outreach centers.
Speaking to The Standard yesterday, the Kanco boss said the price of hepatitis C treatment remained exorbitant and inaccessible to many Kenyans. Up to 500,000 people die of hepatitis C-related complications every year and in many countries the number of deaths has surpassed those caused by HIV and Aids.
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