Combatting Hepatitis in Burkina Faso

An estimated 300 million people are affected by viral hepatitis worldwide, and more than a million of those die each year due to the liver disease and cancer that it can cause. Burkina Faso has a particularly high presence of Hepatitis B. Access to testing and treatment are limited, and because many infected individuals are asymptomatic, patients often do not know they have the disease until they develop liver disease or cancer. Many die as a result.

In 2023, Peace Winds began a program to increase prevention, testing, treatment, and awareness of hepatitis in Burkina Faso. We started by donating a device called a FibroScan, which detects the presence and progression of hepatitis, to the country’s Institute of Public Health. Now, we have partnered with local NGOs that are using the FibroScan to conduct non-invasive screenings. 

In addition to supporting testing and treatment, Peace Winds collaborates with local and national governments, health workers, and patients themselves. Education and training about hepatitis is provided through health conferences, meetings, and one-on-one dialogues. In turn, participants learn to be public health advocates and raise awareness in their own communities. Patients have been found to be more likely to engage in hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment when urged to do so by a trusted friend, family member, or health provider. Because illiteracy is a common barrier to health care in Burkina Faso, Peace Winds disseminates educational materials in the form of “comics” that tell stories through pictures rather than text. 

Peace Winds is also working to combat hepatitis in Burkina Faso by contributing to other ongoing initiatives, including prenatal checkups, testing for pregnant mothers, vaccinations for newborns, and affordable treatment.