‘20 million Nigerians at risk of hepatitis’

About 20 million Nigerians are at risk of hepatitis, a gastroenterology specialist, Professor Abraham Orkurga Malu, of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) has said. He called on the federal government to take decisive action through proper funding to curb the disease in the country. Malu, who was a guest lecturer at a colloquium organised […]

About 20 million Nigerians are at risk of hepatitis, a gastroenterology specialist, Professor Abraham Orkurga Malu, of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) has said.

He called on the federal government to take decisive action through proper funding to curb the disease in the country.

Malu, who was a guest lecturer at a colloquium organised by Bayero University Kano in honour of the President, National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, Professor Musa Muhammad Borodo, said about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population, majority of whom are economically active are presently living with the deadly viral disease.

“Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest burden of viral hepatitis with a working prevalence of 11% of Hepatitis B and 2.2% of Hepatitis C, implying that over 20 million and four million persons are living with chronic hepatitis B and C respectively,” he said

He described viral hepatitis as one of the major global health problems with more than 500 million patients chronically infected, causing over one million deaths per year globally.

Borodo lamented that despite the initial steps taken by the government when it first signed the Global Health Sector Strategy (GHHS) in 2016 to eliminate Hepatitis by 2030, through pilot trainings and testing of the training modules, “there is no federally funded hepatitis prevention and treatment programme (except for birth-dose vaccination) to reach critical mass population of Nigerians with cost effective lifesaving treatment.

He expressed concern over orientation about the disease among Nigerians even though it has been the leading infectious cause of death, claiming lives of many Nigerians each year.

“As a consequence most of Nigerians estimated to be living with viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected, placing them at greater risk for severe, even fatal complications from the disease and increasing the likelihood that they will spread the virus to others.”

Borodo urged the government to learn from Taiwan and Egypt’s experiences that through proper funding, they have been able to surmount the menace of Hepatitis B and C respectively.

“Egypt has villages that were ravaged by hepatitis C, but that are now declared hepatitis C free. Taiwan had virtually the highest prevalence of liver cancer from hepatitis B, but through immunization, they have reduced this to very low levels. So the problems are not insurmountable. Other countries have done very well we can do as well. It is political will, finances and enlightenment that we need to tackle the challenges,” he added.

Hepatitis

• Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver.
• It is important to know your status; delay in testing/ knowing one’s status worsens disease and causes deaths.
• There are five main types A,B,C,D, E with B being the most deadly and predominant in the North.
• Hepatitis B has no cure.
• Hepatitis C is curable .
• Vaccine is available for Hepatitis A and B.
• Get vaccination when you test negative to hepatitis.
• Hepatitis A can be treated easily and prevented by making sure food is not contaminated with faeces.
• Hepatitis B and C can be prevented by preventing blood and sexual transmission. The vaccine is available and relatively cheap.
• Some cultural practices such as using unsterilized knives and other sharp objects for barbing hair and for pedicure and manicure predispose people to hepatitis B.