Trinidad and Tobago marks World Hepatitis Day, urges vaccination and precautions

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago introduced the general public to Hepatitis, on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day 2023. The Health Ministry stated about the types of the disease and appealed people to follow precautions and safety measures to protect them from it.

The social media post by the Health Ministry stated, “Its World Hepatitis Day.”

Further, it mentioned, “Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and can affect the body’s ability to filter blood, and fight infections. This can lead to a chronic infection.”

While emphasising on the types of the disease, it mentioned that the most common forms of Hepatitis include:

👉Hepatitis A – Spread by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, but it can also be spread by close person-to-person contact with an infected person.
👉Hepatitis B – Spread when bodily fluids from an infected person enter the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles or syringes; or from an infected mother to her infant during pregnancy or delivery.
👉Hepatitis C – Spread by coming into contact with the blood of an infected person.

There is no cure for Hepatitis once it occurs, warned the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago.

To prevent infection, anyone who has not been previously vaccinated should be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the consistent and progressive actions of the Ministry of Health in supplying critical vaccinations for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B as part of a regiment of recommended treatments from the infancy stages, have allowed us to enjoy minimal levels of infection from this virus.

The Health ministry asked the general public of Trinidad and Tobago to stay and informed them that vaccinations for both Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are available at health centres throughout Trinidad and Tobago, free of charge.