In 2026, experts from the Infosvyaz Foundation will launch a regional study aimed at strengthening the prevention and early detection of hepatitis B among adults in Central Asia. The initiative will focus on Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The study seeks to assess the current epidemiological situation of viral hepatitis—particularly hepatitis B—and to develop practical, scalable measures to expand prevention efforts and improve access to diagnostic services for adult populations across the region.
Hepatitis B remains a major global public health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 296 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B, with more than 1.3 million deaths each year resulting from related complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Central Asian countries are facing additional challenges due to a sharp decline in international funding for public health programs. Since 2025, several major international donors have significantly reduced or ended their operations in the region, leading to gaps in adult vaccination programs, disruptions in vaccine procurement, and reduced access to preventive healthcare—particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
Migration trends in the region further increase the risk of cross-border transmission. Labor migrants and their families remain among the most vulnerable groups, underscoring the need for stronger epidemiological surveillance and comprehensive prevention strategies, including expanded immunization efforts.
The initiative aims to support regional health systems in addressing hepatitis B more effectively and to contribute to improved public health resilience across Central Asia.
The study seeks to assess the current epidemiological situation of viral hepatitis—particularly hepatitis B—and to develop practical, scalable measures to expand prevention efforts and improve access to diagnostic services for adult populations across the region.
Hepatitis B remains a major global public health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 296 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B, with more than 1.3 million deaths each year resulting from related complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Central Asian countries are facing additional challenges due to a sharp decline in international funding for public health programs. Since 2025, several major international donors have significantly reduced or ended their operations in the region, leading to gaps in adult vaccination programs, disruptions in vaccine procurement, and reduced access to preventive healthcare—particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
Migration trends in the region further increase the risk of cross-border transmission. Labor migrants and their families remain among the most vulnerable groups, underscoring the need for stronger epidemiological surveillance and comprehensive prevention strategies, including expanded immunization efforts.
The initiative aims to support regional health systems in addressing hepatitis B more effectively and to contribute to improved public health resilience across Central Asia.