BY HAJARA USMAN
About 20 million people, representing 10 percent 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 is unfortunate that many
people in Nigeria and globally who are infected are 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 percent 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 sterilized objects, “because
Hepatitis B and C stay long on the objects and if not sterilized,
could be transmitted.”
The Medical Director of Nisa Garki Hospital, Dr. Kenneth Ityo said the
outreach program, organized in collaboration with the Lehi Foundation,
was aimed at sensitizing 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 program 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 are living
with chronic hepatitis B and C, yet fewer than 1 in 10 have been
diagnosed or received treatments.