Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides 600 hepatitis E rapid test kits to the Ministry of Health and Social Services

The use of these kits in the field and in clinics and hospitals will allow for the immediate diagnosis of hepatitis E, rapidly reducing the time to diagnose infections.Currently, a diagnosis is confirmed through a blood test, which on average requires more than one week to produce results and takes even longer in the regions.

The kits will be distributed systematically for use in the field and at facilities that have a high volume of pregnant women.These test kits will be particularly useful for the diagnosis of pregnant woman who are most vulnerable to hepatitis E infection. As of 29 November, there have been a total of 34 deaths, of which 16 (47%) were pregnant or post-partum women.

At the handover, U.S. Ambassador to Namibia Lisa Johnson said, “Because pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the infection, which can be life-threatening during pregnancy, the time saved during diagnosis may well save the lives of those who use these rapid tests kits.”The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Benjamin Nangombe said, “Hepatitis E is a disease of multiple factors, and putting in place the interventions needed is challenging.The Ministry of Health and Social Services welcomes the donation of these rapid test kits.”

More information about hepatitis E is available here: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hev/efaq.htm

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Namibia.

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