Patient advocacy and education

Hepatitis B infection is a neglected condition that has not benefited from the high profile media campaigns and associated investment that have helped to tackle other infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and malaria.

 There is generally poor education and awareness about hepatitis B, and people living with the infection (and their families) often experience stigma and discrimination. Insufficient resources have been invested to provide individual care, and to drive urgently needed investment in public health approaches and research.

 Through applications for funding, and by enlarging our team, we will generate opportunities for enhanced research with the aim of delivering results that directly improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention in settings across Africa, supported by education and open dialogue with the communities we represent. Alongside our research programme, we are committed to raising the profile of Hepatitis B infection.

We aim to promote the voices of people and communities affected by hepatitis B, so that they can become actively involved in setting priorities, breaking down stigma, raising awareness, and providing advocacy.

References

A blind spot? Confronting the stigma of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection - A systematic review.

Mokaya J, McNaughton AL, Burbridge L, Maponga T, O'Hara G, Andersson M, Seeley J, Matthews PC.Wellcome Open Res. 2018 Aug 21;3:29. doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14273.2

 Hepatitis B virus infection as a neglected tropical disease.

O'Hara GA, McNaughton AL, Maponga T, Jooste P, Ocama P, Chilengi R, Mokaya J, Liyayi MI, Wachira T, Gikungi DM, Burbridge L, O'Donnell D, Akiror CS, Sloan D, Torimiro J, Yindom LM, Walton R, Andersson M, Marsh K, Newton R, Matthews PC.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Oct 5;11(10):e0005842. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005842

 A call for advocacy and patient voice to eliminate hepatitis B virus infection.

Matthews PC, Jack K, Wang S, Abbott J, Bryce K, Cheng B, Ghosh I, Story A, Chen J, Munoz C, Bell J, Riddell S, Goldring A, Goddard C, Moraras K, Cohen C, Brown K, Lazarus JV, Elsharkawy AM.Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Apr;7(4):282-285. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(21)00475-1