Hepatitis is a liver disease that can be transmitted through contaminated food or water,
or contact with a contaminated individual. Risks of contracting the viral disease are
associated with a lack of clean water,
improper sanitation and hygiene.
In Gambia, unpasteurized dairy products and water that hasn’t been boiled are not recommended for consumption by visitors, as they carry the risk of transmitting Hepatitis A.
Gambia’s 2010 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey report shows that only 32 percent of households have an improved drinking water source on their premises. In fact, only 40 percent of the population has access to sanitation equipment and resources. Consequently, water contamination is the cause of 20 percent of deaths under the age of five, which is detrimental to Gambia’s population.