The battle to eliminate hepatitis B and C by 2030 faces a daunting challenge—conflict and political instability. These crises disrupt fragile healthcare systems, allowing infectious diseases like hepatitis to thrive. Sustained efforts in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are critical to the global hepatitis elimination agenda, but these become nearly impossible in war-torn regions and among displaced populations.
How Conflict Fuels Hepatitis Transmission
Political unrest diverts resources from health initiatives to emergency responses. One of the earliest casualties is hepatitis B vaccination programs, crucial for preventing mother-to-child transmission. Damaged healthcare infrastructure halts treatment programs that rely on consistent care.
In war zones and overcrowded refugee camps, unsafe medical practices—such as syringe reuse and poor sanitation—further accelerate hepatitis transmission. Displaced populations suffer the most, often losing access to clean water, basic healthcare, and preventive measures.
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Refugee Camps: A Hotspot for Hepatitis
The plight of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar camp is a grim example. Over a million refugees, fleeing systemic persecution in Myanmar, live in overcrowded conditions with limited healthcare. Hepatitis C prevalence in these camps is as high as 20%, far exceeding Bangladesh’s national average. Years of marginalization and inadequate healthcare in Myanmar left the Rohingya vulnerable, and poor conditions in the camps have only worsened the crisis.
This example underscores how displacement amplifies disease transmission risks, creating long-term health challenges.
The Breakdown of Hepatitis Programs in War Zones
Conflict-stricken regions like Syria, Yemen, and Sudan reveal the devastating impact of war on hepatitis elimination. Before Syria’s civil war, the country had a robust hepatitis B vaccination program. Now, many remain unvaccinated as healthcare systems lie in ruins. Unsafe practices in under-resourced clinics and mass displacement create ideal conditions for hepatitis B and C to spread.
In Yemen, prolonged conflict has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. While diseases like cholera receive urgent attention, hepatitis elimination efforts have been sidelined. Interrupted treatments have worsened outcomes for hepatitis patients, increasing mortality rates.
Steps Toward Mitigating the Impact
Despite these challenges, targeted strategies can mitigate the impact of conflict on hepatitis elimination. Integrating hepatitis care into humanitarian responses is essential. Mobile clinics, vaccination campaigns, and collaboration with local health workers can sustain vital care in refugee camps.
Global funding is critical to bridging gaps in vaccination and treatment in conflict zones. Strengthening health systems by training local providers, reinforcing supply chains, and decentralizing care delivery ensures continuity during crises. Digital health tools can also enable remote monitoring and faster responses to outbreaks.
A Call for Global Action
Hepatitis elimination cannot succeed without addressing the root causes of conflict and instability. The Rohingya crisis and the collapse of programs in war-torn regions highlight the urgent need for coordinated global action. Public health leaders must recognize that eliminating hepatitis is tied to peacebuilding and the broader stabilization of fragile regions.
Only by addressing these interconnected challenges can the global community achieve its goal of eradicating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
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