Absence of legislation hampers blood services

The absence of an enabling legislation to back the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is hampering regulation of blood services, NBTS has said, amidst concerns about the viral disease, hepatitis, transmitted by blood contact.At a dialogue to mark Hepatitis Day, NBTS monitoring and evaluation consultant, Omosigho Izedonmwen, spoke of strong concern about lack of laws […]

The absence of an enabling legislation to back the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) is hampering regulation of blood services, NBTS has said, amidst concerns about the viral disease, hepatitis, transmitted by blood contact.
At a dialogue to mark Hepatitis Day, NBTS monitoring and evaluation consultant, Omosigho Izedonmwen, spoke of strong concern about lack of laws needed to enforce the work of NBTS and “regulate blood services in Nigeria.”
A bill to that effect has scaled committee stage and been passed to the federal health ministry ahead of being sent to the Federal Executive Council, he said.
Hepatitis—a viral inflammation of the liver—is among four diseases for which blood handled by NBTS are screened, prompting continued attempts to raise awareness about the disease.
But public interest in the condition lags behind awareness of HIV, because of funding problems. Said Izedonmwen: “It might interest you to
know the World Health Organisation only set aside a day for hepatitis three years ago. It just tells you the West is not as interested in hepatitis as much as they are in other diseases. In this part of the world, we are not interested at all.”

 

Uncertain numbers

Exact prevalence of the disease in Nigeria is unknown, but experts say rise in reported cases is the result of increasing awareness, not necessarily new infections.
Nigerian Medical Association called for continued awareness and action to address the “silent epidemic of viral hepatitis”—including stronger prevention and control of related diseases, increased coverage of hepatitis B vaccine and its integration into national immunisation and a coordinated global response to viral hepatitis.
“We encourage Individuals to take steps towards ensuring that they are not infected with Hepatitis B, C and D through abstinence, being mutually faithful to a sexual partner, not sharing skin piercing instruments, ensuring that blood products are properly screened before a patient is transfused,” NMA president, Dr Osahon Enabulele said in a statement.

“Individuals are encouraged to ensure that they drink clean potable water and eat well cooked food to prevent infection with Hepatitis A and E.”
Five strains of hepatitis—A, B, C, D, E—cause inflammation in the liver, a major health risk for around 240 million people globally, with another 150 million infected with hepatitis C.
A and E are caused by eating contaminated food or water, while B, C and E result from blood-to-blood contact with infected body fluids, including in blood transfusions and invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment, according to the World Health Organisation.
Hepatitis B and C can also be transmitted through sexual contact, although this is less common with hepatitis C.
Symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.