The 2024 African Viral Hepatitis Convention Declaration of Cape Town

We, those present and today assembled on the 18th May 2024, affirm the following:

In April 2024, the WHO updated its Global Viral Hepatitis Report and for Africa noted:

1. Almost 2/3rds or 63% of the global burden of hepatitis virus infection now occurs in Africa

2. 771 000 new hepatitis B and 172 000 new hepatitis C virus infections will occur this year in Africa

3. 272 000 will die from hepatitis B, and 35 000 from hepatitis C in 2024 alone

4. Children below the age of 5 will still not reach the <0.1% hepatitis B seroprevalence target

5. Liver cancer rates continue to rise – now the 3rd leading cancer in men

6. Only 18% of babies received a hepatitis B birth dose vaccination and PMTCT programs are minimal.

This is happening:

1. 45 years after the availability of the hepatitis B vaccine

2. With the youngest population worldwide, only 13 African countries having introduced a universal

hepatitis B birth dose vaccination policy and 2 countries targeted hepatitis B birth dose vaccination

3. Globally available and a8ordable hepatitis B treatment

4. 10 years after the availability of highly e8ective cure for hepatitis C

5. 28 countries have developed a national hepatitis strategic plan for viral hepatitis; but most are still in

draft form with only 13 o8icially published and disseminated.

6. 5 years after the African Union endorsed the Cairo Declaration on Viral Hepatitis in Africa

PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING! As a community of people living with viral hepatitis, advocates for those living with viral hepatitis, healthcare workers, academics and those who simply care, we say NO MORE!

All the tools to eliminate viral hepatitis are available and are uncomplicated interventions. In 2016, our global leaders signed up to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Africa is among the regions lagging and will miss out in achieving the target of testing 90% people with viral hepatitis and treating 80% of diagnosed individuals. We know it can be done. When there is political will there is a way! Egypt, Rwanda, Namibia, and Mauritius, amongst others, have shown us the way and are beacons of hope, leading the way forward.

Our leaders lack the political will. Our leaders have failed us by not demonstrating that they truly care

We say No more silence!
We say No more marginalization!
We say No more barriers to implementation!
We say No more excuses!
We say No more to a lack of domestic funding!
We say No more to any care without a patient centered approach!

Viral hepatitis is a silent disease that kills – we will be silent no more!! Silence = Complicity. Silence = Death

We demand:

1. To be heard and to be seen
2. The immediate prioritization of national elimination plans (National Strategic Plans) – vaccinate – prevent - screen – treat!
3. The immediate allocation of the needed resources and domestic funding
4. No more talking – we need African action
5. The political will and commitment to institute policy and remove discrimination.

2 great African leaders once said, “It always seems impossible until it's done" (Nelson Mandela) and “It can be done, play your part”! (Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Kambarage).

Eliminating viral hepatitis is not impossible – and it can and will be done in Africa. We reaffirm ourselves to the struggle today!