Up to 1.7 million people were infected with hepatitis B through an unsafe injection in a year, says UN body
Millions of people could be protected from infections acquired through unsafe injections if all health-care programmes switched to syringes that cannot be used more than once, says a new report by World Health Organization (WHO). To offer a solution for the same, the international health body is also launching a new policy on injection safety and a global campaign with support from the IKEA Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
An earlier study by WHO had estimated that in 2010, up to 1.7 million people were infected with hepatitis B virus, up to 315,000 with hepatitis C virus and as many as 33,800 with HIV through an unsafe injection.
A reason behind such numbers is also that people in many countries believe that injections are the most of the diseases. The UN body, therefore, stresses the need to reduce the number of unnecessary injections as a critical way of reducing risk.
“Adoption of safety-engineered syringes is absolutely critical to protecting people worldwide from becoming infected with HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. This should be an urgent priority for all countries,” says Gottfried Hirnschall, director of the WHO HIV/AIDS department.
What makes syringes smart?
The new “smart” syringes WHO recommends for injections into the muscle or skin have features that prevent re-use. Some models include a weak spot in the plunger that causes it to break if the user attempts to pull back on the plunger after the injection. Others have a metal clip that blocks the plunger so it cannot be moved back, while in others the needle retracts into the syringe barrel at the end of the injection.
WHO has also urged countries to transition, by 2020, to the exclusive use of the new “smart” syringes.
Study on prevalence of Hepatitis C infection in healthy and high risk groups
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.