This World Hepatitis Day (WHD), the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE) seeks to highlight the continued urgency of implementing hepatitis B birth dose and showcase progress in HepB birth dose policy development, research, and advocacy over the past year. CGHE will convene a virtual session of the HepB Birth Dose Community of Practice to discuss these developments and priorities for accelerating access to HepB birth dose vaccine moving forward.

Program

Introduction/welcome

• Welcome from Dr. John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination
• Opening Remarks-- Dr. Julien Kabore, WHO AFRO
• Brief presentation on setting the stage--Dr. Henry Njuguna, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination
  • Newly released 2021 HepB birth dose coverage 
  • Overview of status of HepB birth dose policies

Highlights in policy development

• Achieving HepB birth dose adoption in Uganda-- the latest country to develop a HepB birth dose policy-- Dr. Peter Waiswa, Uganda National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) 
• Status of HepB birth dose in Malawi-- key developments in national planning, need for Gavi support-- Dr. Rabson Kachala/ Dr. Wongani Mzumara, Malawi Ministry of Health
• Q/A 

Highlights in research

• Update on survey results of acceptable trade-offs for a potential RDT to diagnose HBV-infected women eligible for peripartum antiviral prophylaxis-- Dr. Yusuki Shimakawa, Institut Pasteur
• Study to estimate HepB birth dose coverage in The Gambia-- Dr. Gibril Ndow, MRC Unit The Gambia, LSHTM
• Launching IMPACT-B: Immunization to Protect African Children from Transmission of Hepatitis B, a new study funded by Gavi-- Dr. Shevanthi Nayagam, Imperial College London
• Q/A

Highlights in advocacy

• Report on CGHE initiative to fund civil society HepB birth dose campaigns
  • Presentation from Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana
  • Presentation from Hepatitis Aid Organization (Uganda)
  • Remarks from key partners
    • Great Lakes Peace Center
    • HREP Malawi
    • Care for Social Welfare International (Cameroon)
    • Africa Hepatitis Initiative
• Q/A

Register here