A medical study carried out in eastern Slovakia has revealed an alarming occurrence of hepatitis B among inhabitants of Roma settlements, study coordinator Peter Jarcuska said at a press conference in Kosice on Thursday.
Hepatatis B was found with as many as 12.5 percent of Roma living in 12 settlements in eastern Slovakia, while a whopping 53 percent were indicated as still having an active virus in their bodies or as having contracted the disease in the past. Even though doctors had expected that occurrence of hepatitis may be high, the results have surprised them. "The occurrence of this infection disease among our Roma is as high as in countries with the world's lowest standards of living," said Jarcuska, cautioning that hepatitis may spread out from Roma settlements to the rest of the population. The study also involved the collection of socio-economic data. "Almost 90 percent of the Roma have only basic education, many don't have jobs. Half of them don't have running water, flushable toilets and bathrooms, while 20 percent don't have electricity," said Jarcuska. In addition, studies made earlier have shown that Roma men in Slovakia live 7.5 years less than the majority population, while Roma women have the life expectancy 6.6 years shorter than the majority – which is already low when compared with famously healthy nations like Sweden. "Such a simple thing as vaccination of the Roma population aged 16-45 against hepatitis B may help reduce, for little cost, the occurrence of hepatitis and related diseases, such as cirrhosis of the liver and related cancers, which are extremely demanding in terms of the treatment regime," added Jarcuska.
