About 20 million people, representing 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population, may be carriers of the hepatitis virus, even as experts reckon that the B and C variants are more prevalent in Northern Nigeria.
A gastroenterologist at Garki Hospital, Abuja, Dr Idile Justice said while the virus can be managed, it could also be deadly if not detected and treated early being one of the leading causes of liver cancer.
At an outreach to mark the 2025 World Hepatitis day with the theme “let’s break it down”, Dr Justice said it was unfortunate that many people in Nigeria and globally who were infected were unaware of their status owing to lack of information.
He said Hepatitis B and C are transmittable through blood transfusion and use of sharp objects, hence, over 60 per cent liver diseases and liver cancers were majorly caused by the ailment.
He urged Nigerians to ensure that they get tested and vaccinated as basic preventive measures against the ailment, even as he listed danger points as sharing sharp objects, using untested blood before transfusion, drawing a tattoo without sterilised objects, “because Hepatitis B and C stay long on the objects and if not sterilised, could be transmitted.”
The Medical Director of Nisa Garki Hospital, Dr. Kenneth Ityo said the outreach programme, organised in collaboration with the Lehi Foundation, was aimed at sensitising society as well as reaching out to the immediate community to reduce the spread of the disease.
He regretted that adequate attention had not been given to hepatitis, which he described as deadlier than many other diseases and one that could lead to chronic illnesses.
“This intervention is free and we are testing both at the hospital and at Garki Village. This is what we do regularly as part of our corporate social responsibility because we know that infections such as hepatitis B and C could go on to manifest as chronic liver disease and even vascular cancer, which is why public awareness is so crucial.
“We have a few organizations collaborating with us. Today, to mark this event, we are offering a free assessment to confirm those who are negative so that they can get vaccinated,” said Dr Ityo.
He outlined the steps in hepatitis prevention and care: “The first step is vaccinating everybody to make sure they do not get sick. The second step is early diagnosis—testing everybody with the intervention so that if we catch it early enough, we can offer some form of care.”
Some beneficiaries said the testing would help them know their status, take the vaccination, and begin other preventive measures seriously.
The testing and vaccination programme by Nisa Garki Hospital, in collaboration with the Lehi Foundation, is also being conducted randomly at Garki Village and other suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
World Hepatitis Day is marked globally on the 28 July every year to create awareness and garner support for those affected by the disease.
The global body said more than 70 million people in Africa were living with chronic hepatitis B and C, yet fewer than 1 in 10 had been diagnosed or received treatments.
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