|TOP|World Vision recently responded to an unusually high number of Hepatitis cases within one of its four Area Development Programme areas. The organisation arranged meetings for children, teachers and parents to raise awareness of infectious diseases, particularly, Hepatitis A Virus and Jaundice.

Children are amongst those who are vulnerable to the disease due to their physical contact with other children at school. The awareness raising meetings were held for one week in 11 schools throughout of Elbasan district, 45 kilometers away from the Albanian capital, Tirana.

Children were also provided with information leaflets conveying simple preventive messages.

Although there is no treatment for hepatitis A, raising awareness on simple measures such as learning to identify the disease and being aware of hygiene conditions are crucial to preventing the disease from spreading.

|AD|For the majority of the children, it was the first time they had been given such education.

”It is important to address the issue before it is turning into an epidemic. We have to find solutions now when there are 'sporadic' cases reported otherwise it will become harder”, stated Matilda Biqiku, Elbasan 2 ADP Team Leader.

”Poor hygiene can cause children to become ill as well as eating unwashed fruits and vegetables from the market", said Suzana Gjevoni, Director of Primary Health Care.

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV).

HAV is found in the feces of people with hepatitis A and is usually spread by close personal contact. Eating food or drinking water contaminated with HAV can also spread the virus.

After the meeting, students became more aware of the hygiene conditions at school and received the central message that it is necessary to take preventive measure against the Hepatitis A Virus.

A high number of 22 cases in the district were recorded for January alone this year, compared to 63 cases from the whole of 2005.