…wants government, donors, global health agencies to fund hepatitis programmes
The President, Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria SOGHIN
Professor. Jesse Otegbayo, has called on Nigerians to abstain from unhealthy lifestyles
and practices that can make them susceptible to develop Hepatitis.
He made the
call in Abuja today, as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2022 World
Hepatitis Day with the theme: ‘’ Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer to You”.
Professor. Otegbayo who is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist with the
University College Hospital Ibadan, Oyo State and Chief Medical Director,
University College Hospital, Ibadan , Oyo State gave a background as to why 28
July was chosen to celebrate day, saying it is the birthday of Nobel prize winning scientist, Dr
Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus HBV and developed a
diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
He explained that there are many ways of
reducing the chances of getting hepatitis namely to get the vaccines for hepatitis A
and hepatitis B, use condom during sex, do not share needles to take drugs, screen
blood before transfusion and practice good personal hygiene such as hand washing
with soap and water.
World Health Organization WHO estimated that more than 350 million people are
still living with this life- threatening disease globally.
The gains made have been
uneven across the world, with those most impacted often least likely to benefit and
countries have failed to meet the GHSS 2022 targets .
In Nigeria, an estimate of 20
million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B and C. Infection and
prevention control in health care settings needs further improvements and harm reduction remains insufficiently scaled up and accessible.
Only 10% and 21% of
people know that they live with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C respectively, even
fewer receive treatment , and liver cancer related to hepatitis is on an exponential
rise.
SOGHIN asked that multisectoral action , which recognises civil society as an integral
partner, is taken to operationalize hepatitis programmes which promotes
integration, decentralization and task shifting to improve access.
The society developed guildlines for the diagnosis and treatment of Hepatitis B and
C in Nigeria.
It also has been part of every initiative developed by the
Federal Government of Nigeria in reducing the burden of the disease in the country.
The society called on governments , global health agencies and donors to honour commitments
already made and further commit to prioritise and fund comprehensive hepatitis
programmes so that everyone has access to affordable prevention,
testing , treatment and care.
As a way of marking World Hepatitis Day 2022,members of the SOGHIN in all the 36
states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory will organize various
activities such as health walk, carnivals, media engagements, screening for
hepatitis B and C, visit to policy makers and vaccination.
SOGHIN called on the 350 million people living with viral hepatitis and their communities to
unite, amplify their voices and take their place in the hepatitis response.
