Hepatitis Can’t Wait: From Silent Diagnosis to a National Voice for Change a Personal Journey that Reflects a National Crisis

On World Hepatitis Day, July 28, 2021, Friends of Humanity—a nationally recognized organization spearheading the hepatitis response in South Sudan—organized a powerful public health event under the global theme "Hepatitis Can’t Wait." The initiative featured a football match between South Sudanese football legends and Aweng Football Club, hosted at Munuki Playground in Juba. But beyond the excitement of the match lay a deeper purpose: a large-scale hepatitis awareness and screening campaign.

Among the hundreds in attendance was Ajing, a 30-year-old recent graduate from the University of Juba. Like many young people, Ajing came to enjoy the match and support the legendary team. However, after listening to a moving health education session delivered by Friends of Humanity staff, he made the life-altering decision to get tested for hepatitis B and C.

To his shock, Ajing tested positive for the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Despite receiving immediate post-test counseling, Ajing fell into distress. The pervasive myths and misinformation circulating in communities—that hepatitis B is incurable, easily transmissible through casual contact, and inevitably fatal—had deeply shaped his understanding. He began self-isolating, fearing he might infect his family, and his relatives began preparing to raise funds for what they believed would be a long, expensive, and hopeless medical journey.

Weeks later, Ajing’s turning point came during a Friends of Humanity hepatitis awareness session at his church. For the first time, he learned that hepatitis B is not a death sentence. He discovered that the virus can be managed with appropriate care, that not all cases require lifelong medication, and most importantly, that the disease is not transmitted through everyday social interaction.

Empowered with this knowledge, Ajing sought medical attention. His liver function tests and abdominal ultrasound were normal, but his viral load was elevated. The physician placed him on a three-month antiviral regimen. Upon reassessment, his viral load had significantly declined—a testament to the power of early intervention and accurate information.

From Fear to Advocacy

Ajing is now healthy and thriving, but more than that, he has become a community champion for hepatitis awareness in South Sudan. His experience with misinformation and stigma moved him to take action. Today, he shares his story in schools, churches, and public gatherings, working to dismantle the dangerous myths that continue to endanger lives across the country.

Ajing's journey is a reflection of a larger public health emergency—one that is quietly unfolding across South Sudan.

A Silent Epidemic in South Sudan

Hepatitis B and C remain underdiagnosed and undertreated in South Sudan, yet they are among the leading causes of liver cancer and cirrhosis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 296 million people globally live with chronic hepatitis B, and 58 million with hepatitis C, with 1.1 million deaths annually due to complications such as liver cancer and cirrhosis. The prevalence. Eastern Mediterranean and African regions carry the highest

In South Sudan, hepatitis remains largely invisible in the public health response. Limited testing centers, inadequate diagnostic capacity, scarce treatment options, and a lack of government-supported programs have left many patients undiagnosed or without follow-up care. Access to viral load testing, liver function analysis, and antiviral medications is minimal, particularly in rural areas.

Ajing’s case is one of the few fortunate ones—many others never get tested, or live unaware until the disease has progressed beyond intervention.

Policy, Systems, and the Urgent Need for Action

Despite the high burden, hepatitis remains a low priority in national health agendas. There is an urgent need for:

v Government-led hepatitis policies that integrate screening and treatment into the primary healthcare system.

v Training of healthcare professionals to correctly diagnose and manage hepatitis.

v Community education campaigns to eliminate stigma and false information.

v Partnerships with global health actors, including WHO, to scale up resources, research, and technical support.

South Sudan has an opportunity to align itself with the WHO’s Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis 2022–2030, which envisions the elimination of hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. But achieving this requires urgent investment in accurate data collection, national policy frameworks, and decentralized access to diagnostics and treatment.

Changing Lives through Stories like Ajing’s

Ajing is living proof that when people have access to information, testing, and treatment, their lives can be transformed. But his story should not be the exception—it should become the norm. Every person in South Sudan deserves the right to know their status, the dignity of proper care, and the freedom from stigma and misinformation.

At Friends of Humanity, we remain committed to a people-centered, community-led approach in the fight against viral hepatitis. Our advocacy efforts continue to empower youth, women, faith base leaders, and healthcare workers to lead change from the grassroots.

A Call for Global and National Solidarity

Hepatitis can’t wait, and neither can the people of South Sudan. In this country and others like it, misinformation and medical inaccessibility are costing lives in silence. If we are serious about eliminating hepatitis by 2030, then we must act now—with urgency, with commitment, and with compassion.

Let Ajing’s story remind us that behind every statistic is a human life—a future that can be saved with a simple test, the right words, and timely care.

Mr. Anthony Matiok Madut

Executive Director, Friends of Humanity – Juba, South Sudan

National Advocate on Hepatitis Elimination