Editorial

Prevention of Liver Fibrosis and Cancer in Africa: The PROLIFICA project – a collaborative study of hepatitis B-related liver disease in West Africa

Jessica Howell, Nimzing G Ladep, Maud Lemoine, Shevanthi Nayagam, Papa Souleymane Toure, Magatte Madoky Diop, Joao Armindo Daveiga, Amina Sow Sall, Gora Lo, Mary M E Crossey, Mark R Thursz, Simon D Taylor-Robinson, Mamadou Mourtalla Ka

Abstract


Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes a spectrum of acute and chronic liver disease ranging from inactive chronic carrier status to progressive chronic hepatitis, culminating in end-stage cirrhosis and liver cancer. In sub-Saharan Africa, HBV infection is endemic and the HBV-related disease burden is high, making HBV a signficant threat to health in the African continent. The European Union-funded Prevention of Liver Fibrosis and Cancer in Africa (PROLIFICA) project was established in 2011, with the central directive to reduce the incidence of HBV-related liver cancer in West Africa. In this editorial, we outline some of the achievements and challenges of the PROLIFICA platform in West Africa, highlighting the the importance of collaborative studies in Africa.


Authors' affiliations

Jessica Howell, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK; Centre for Population Health, Macfarlane-Burnet Institute, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Nimzing G Ladep, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK; Department of Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria

Maud Lemoine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK; Medical Research Council (The Gambia Unit), Fajara, The Gambia

Shevanthi Nayagam, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK

Papa Souleymane Toure, UFR Santé, Thiès University, Thiès, Sénégal

Magatte Madoky Diop, UFR Santé, Thiès University, Thiès, Sénégal

Joao Armindo Daveiga, UFR Santé, Thiès University, Thiès, Sénégal

Amina Sow Sall, Laboratoire de Bacteriologie Virologie, Le Dantec Hospital, Dakar, Sénégal

Gora Lo, Laboratoire de Bacteriologie Virologie, Le Dantec Hospital, Dakar, Sénégal

Mary M E Crossey, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK

Mark R Thursz, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK

Simon D Taylor-Robinson, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK

Mamadou Mourtalla Ka, UFR Santé, Thiès University, Thiès, Sénégal

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Keywords

Viral hepatitis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Epidemiology

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2015;105(3):185-186. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.8880

Article History

Date submitted: 2014-08-30
Date published: 2015-01-27

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