About This Course

Hepatitis B is a major public health burden. Around 260 million people worldwide are infected with the hepatitis B Virus (HBV), the large majority of them has never been tested and is not aware of that infection. Of the 37 million persons living with HIV approximately 7.5% are coinfected with HBV, the number of coinfected persons is highest in the African Region. HBV infection can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. According to WHO estimates HBV was responsible for 887.000 deaths in 2015. The challenge is to diagnose HBV early, evaluate infected patients for liver fibrosis, start treatment according to the existing guidelines and maximize all efforts to prevent HBV transmission to uninfected individuals. This course that has been created for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation will equip the healthcare workers providing HIV care with essential knowledge about managing HBV and HIV/HBV coinfection.