South-East Asia Expert Panel for verification of Hepatitis B Control
Dates: 16-18/01/2024
Participants: Chairperson and members of the South-East Asia Regional Expert Panel for Verification of Hepatitis B Control, Chairperson of the South-East Asia Regional Validation Committee for Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B, representatives of national programmes of India, Maldives and Sri Lanka and a WHO secretariat
Overview: The 4th consultation of the South-East Asia Regional Expert Panel for Verification of Hepatitis B Control (SEA-REP) held in Mumbai, India reviewed progress towards hepatitis B control and elimination goals under verification aspects, country documentation submitted for verification and status of maintaining control levels in countries already verified.
It identified and discussed relevant technical aspects in hepatitis B control pertinent to verification including implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on immunization and mother and health care service. It interacted with the newly formed South-East Asia Regional Validation Committee for Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B and explored options for future coordination mechanisms. The group also conducted an advocacy meeting with state health officials of Maharashtra, India on the importance of achieving hepatitis B immunization targets and participated in a field visit to selected health facilities administering the hepatitis B birth dose vaccination.
Upon reviewing verification requests, the SEA-REP concluded that the 2020 hepatitis B control target through vaccination has been achieved in Maldives and Sri Lanka with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence in children 5-7 years old shown to be lower than 1% by a nationally representative serosurveys of good quality. Specific recommendations were made and both countries were given suggestions for their path towards validation of elimination of mother to child transmission (EMTCT) of hepatitis B virus.
Outcomes: This success increased the number of countries in the Region having achieved the control goal to 6. The SEA-REP also reviewed the status in the 4 countries verified in 2019 (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Thailand) as well as the situation in the remaining 5 countries and will submit a report with observations and recommendations to the 2024 meeting of the regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group.
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Author: WHO, Sigrun Roesel
Photo caption: WHO regional hepatitis B expert panel consultation South-East Asia.