Dr. Johnson Katanga from the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) has urged staff of the Petroleum Bulk Procurement Agency (PBPA) to take part in health screenings and receive vaccination to protect themselves against Hepatitis B infections.

The call was made today during a health awareness session, voluntary screening, and vaccination exercise against Hepatitis B held at the PBPA hall in Dar es Salaam.

Speaking during the session, Dr. Katanga explained that the Hepatitis B vaccine is administered in three doses. The first dose is given after an individual is tested and confirmed not to be infected, the second dose is given after one month, and the third dose is administered six months after the first dose.

He noted that the vaccine has been part of routine immunization for children in Tanzania since 2002, administered shortly after birth. As a result, individuals born in 2001 or earlier are advised to get vaccinated if they have not already received the vaccine.

On symptoms, Dr. Katanga stated that Hepatitis B often shows no symptoms in its early stages, which leads many people to discover the infection at an advanced stage. He mentioned that later symptoms may include extreme fatigue, pain in the upper right abdomen, yellowing of the eyes and skin, loss of appetite, dark urine, pale stool, and swelling of the legs or abdomen.

He further explained that the virus can be transmitted through several routes, including mother-to-child transmission during childbirth, unprotected sexual contact, contact with infected blood or body fluids, sharing sharp objects such as needles, and transfusion with contaminated blood.

“Statistics show that approximately 254 million people worldwide are living with Hepatitis B, while in Tanzania the prevalence is estimated at about 4 percent. This highlights the importance of taking early preventive measures,” he emphasized.

He added that if not detected early, about 5 to 6 percent of those infected may develop chronic infection, which can lead to severe complications including liver cancer.

On his part, Acting Human Resources Manager at PBPA, Mr. Matiko Sanawa, said the initiative is part of implementing government directives under Public Service Circular No. 2 of 2014, which emphasizes the importance of protecting employees’ health in the workplace.

He noted that employers have a responsibility to ensure their staff remain healthy in order to perform their duties effectively and contribute to national development.

“We invited experts from the Ocean Road Cancer Institute to provide education, conduct voluntary screening, and administer vaccines. This is an important step in ensuring our staff maintain good health,” said Mr. Sanawa.

This initiative is part of the Government’s broader strategy to strengthen preventive healthcare services against both communicable and non-communicable diseases by promoting early screening and vaccination.